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tired_cicada's reviews
86 reviews
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I absolutely ADORED this book from start to finish! A beautiful retelling that is like a modern love letter to the original!
If you are looking for something to scratch that pride and prejudice itch in a fresh and lovely way than this book will not disappoint! The romance was darling, the characters were both true to their origins while also feeling renewed and expanded! Charlotte remains to be a tragic character and I wish this story would have given her a proper happy ending, but alas.
Mr and Mrs Bennett are so wonderful in this! I was so worried going in that Mrs Bennett would be disregarded as the overbearing mother rather than a mother desperate to protect her children!The way they BOTH accepted Oliver so quickly made me so emotional! Also “you’re telling me I dressed my son inappropriately for society for years?” What such a perfect way to frame her response 😭🤣
If I had to make a critique it would definitely be that the characterization of Wickham was disappointing. He felt very wasted as a character. The entire point of him was that he was Charming and good with words as a smoke screen to hide that he was a bad person. In this he’s just sort of always awful. It was very much low hanging fruit. He could have done more.
I cannot recommend this book enough! Run, dont walk! It was stunning!
If you are looking for something to scratch that pride and prejudice itch in a fresh and lovely way than this book will not disappoint! The romance was darling, the characters were both true to their origins while also feeling renewed and expanded! Charlotte remains to be a tragic character and I wish this story would have given her a proper happy ending, but alas.
Mr and Mrs Bennett are so wonderful in this! I was so worried going in that Mrs Bennett would be disregarded as the overbearing mother rather than a mother desperate to protect her children!
If I had to make a critique it would definitely be that the characterization of Wickham was disappointing. He felt very wasted as a character. The entire point of him was that he was Charming and good with words as a smoke screen to hide that he was a bad person. In this he’s just sort of always awful. It was very much low hanging fruit. He could have done more.
I cannot recommend this book enough! Run, dont walk! It was stunning!
The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Picked it up casue I really liked Divine Rivals and it has the same author. Only to find out the main love story is a TeacherxStudent involving a literary BARELY 18 fmc. TeacherxStudent is a HARD NO trope for me so I am gone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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? Yes
2.5
I wanted to like this book so bad! This was such an anticipated read and it was so disappointing 😭
Listen, the world was beautiful! The vibes were immaculate! The characters were brimming with potential!! But it fell so flat.
I had a lot of hope cause it starts off with a bang, it sets a tone! …. And then nothing happens for 100 pages.
The prose were so bad. So much “telling” was going on and it read like it was trying to have a poetic lilt but is just comes off awkward and choppy.
The dialogue was PAINFULLY bad at times and was had so much forced exposition why did we learn about the kids getting kidnapped from a stilted conversation and instead of just hearing about a missing kid? A mother looking for her child? Something will a little more bite? and more than that every single character sounds exactly the same. They have the exact same vocal patterns and they are totally indistinguishable to each other.
The romance was so forced!!!! It came out of nowhere and went from zero to a hundred immediately!!!
I’m so sad. I wanted to love this book!
Listen, the world was beautiful! The vibes were immaculate! The characters were brimming with potential!! But it fell so flat.
I had a lot of hope cause it starts off with a bang, it sets a tone! …. And then nothing happens for 100 pages.
The prose were so bad. So much “telling” was going on and it read like it was trying to have a poetic lilt but is just comes off awkward and choppy.
The dialogue was PAINFULLY bad at times and was had so much forced exposition
The romance was so forced!!!! It came out of nowhere and went from zero to a hundred immediately!!!
I’m so sad. I wanted to love this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Pregnancy
Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
SPOILER HEAVY! (Marked but still)
So I really liked this book, it was very engaging and fast paced, but I have to agree with the people who said this book is more plot TWIST than it is plot. Many of said plots not having the foreshadowing necessary to make them feel natural, so they just felt slapped on. It had the same vibes as those old “spy vs spy” comics but Inez is just kinda… also there. Things happen around her but not as much to her. Like everyone else is playing chess and she is playing hopscotch. Thank goodness they never left this woman alone, she has the survival instincts of dodo bird.
I hate to say it… but I don’t like Wit. And she forgave him WAY too easily given that he NEVER ACTUALLY APOLOGIZED!!!The man married her knowing full well that he was going to rob her blind (casue again! No survival instincts!), oh but don’t you worry. He didn’t kick up much of a fuss consummating that marriage
Inez’s “fortune” doesn’t make an ounce of sense. Where did it come from? How do they have all of this money it’s implied they had this fortune LONG before either parent started selling artifacts so it can’t all be from that Is it “old money” and they are just living off the interest? Why was ALL of their money in a singular bank in Cairo when they are high society in Argentina?
On to Inez’s mother. Her timeline doesn’t make ANY SENSE!How did she spend half of the year in Egypt, half in Argentina, and ANOTHER half in England?!? That’s too many halves!! Also, explain to me how she has two daughters that are almost the exact same age, but her affair was only discovered LAST YEAR?!? How did she hide a whole ass pregnancy and double life?
However in her defense, the story spends a lot of time disparaging her as being this evil adulteress, and praising Inez’s father as this god among men, but to turn around and heavily imply she is a victim of marital rape and abuse. I genuinely think faking her death was the only way she could have gotten away from that man.and what the actual FUCK was that reveal that her dad was actually Sterling?!?!? What kind of absolute NONSENSE was that?!?!?
So many people died for this. I hate to say it but everyone who says that “none of this would have happened if [inez] had stayed in Argentina” is RIGHT! She accidentally causes problems and it gets people killed. “Oh , but if I hadn’t come I’d have never met Wit!” PEOPLE DIED INEZ! Namely your cousin who you bring up all the time but never seem to let her death actually sway you toward caution!!! also He literally sold you out at the FIRST opportunity to give every last penny you own to his gambling addicted, abusive father! He didn’t give them a stipend to help with expenses. Didn’t offer them a loan they that could pay back once debt were settled. Nope, just handed it RIGHT over!
I need to find someone irl to dissect this book with casue I have so many thought! This book sure invoked an emotion!
So I really liked this book, it was very engaging and fast paced, but I have to agree with the people who said this book is more plot TWIST than it is plot. Many of said plots not having the foreshadowing necessary to make them feel natural, so they just felt slapped on. It had the same vibes as those old “spy vs spy” comics but Inez is just kinda… also there. Things happen around her but not as much to her. Like everyone else is playing chess and she is playing hopscotch. Thank goodness they never left this woman alone, she has the survival instincts of dodo bird.
I hate to say it… but I don’t like Wit. And she forgave him WAY too easily given that he NEVER ACTUALLY APOLOGIZED!!!
Inez’s “fortune” doesn’t make an ounce of sense. Where did it come from? How do they have all of this money
On to Inez’s mother. Her timeline doesn’t make ANY SENSE!
However in her defense, the story spends a lot of time disparaging her as being this evil adulteress, and praising Inez’s father as this god among men, but to turn around and heavily imply she is a victim of marital rape and abuse. I genuinely think faking her death was the only way she could have gotten away from that man.
So many people died for this. I hate to say it but everyone who says that “none of this would have happened if [inez] had stayed in Argentina” is RIGHT! She accidentally causes problems and it gets people killed. “Oh , but if I hadn’t come I’d have never met Wit!” PEOPLE DIED INEZ! Namely your cousin who you bring up all the time but never seem to let her death actually sway you toward caution!!!
I need to find someone irl to dissect this book with casue I have so many thought! This book sure invoked an emotion!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, and Kidnapping
Fable by Adrienne Young
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Last year I read “Daughter of the Pirate King”. Well this is the book that book THOUGHT it was. A beautiful sea faring adventure with just enough magic to keep things interesting.
The world feels lived it. The people feel real. None of them exist just to serve the plot and if you made any one of them the pov character that story would have been just as rich and flushed out.
I will say the romance did feel a little forced. I would have liked it more if there had been just a growing attraction in this book and then an actual relationship could develop in the next one. I also look forward to having a proper villain (?) in the next book. Up to this point the main villain has been circumstance, so it’ll be interesting to see how the crew handles that situation.
The world feels lived it. The people feel real. None of them exist just to serve the plot and if you made any one of them the pov character that story would have been just as rich and flushed out.
I will say the romance did feel a little forced. I would have liked it more if there had been just a growing attraction in this book and then an actual relationship could develop in the next one. I also look forward to having a proper villain (?) in the next book. Up to this point the main villain has been circumstance, so it’ll be interesting to see how the crew handles that situation.
An Honored Vow by Melissa Blair
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is the last book, why are we still doing this “will-they-won’t-they” thing when there are so many other relationships that could have used that time to shine and flush them out? That’s really the only demerit I have, is that we don’t need the romance to do this back and forth nonsense this far in for such shoddy reasoning.
I am HERE for dark Gwen!! Loved every single second of that! I support women’s right AND women’s wrongs!Killing off her sorta love interest but then not letting us see her response to that was bullshit however and there will be no forgiveness for that
I am HERE for dark Gwen!! Loved every single second of that! I support women’s right AND women’s wrongs!
The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
What… what was that? The whole thing was so disjointed and rushed, every single character was hollow and boring. Nothing is explained properly, and then events of the plot just sort of… happen. The characters are not active participants in their world they just happen to be there.
Why did the fmc not do more things in the forge? Like that’s her job, that is her expertise! Why was that not utilized at all outside of exactly ONE (1) knife she made?
The whole “fated mates” thing did nothing to the plot, and I’m convinced it was only added to they could tag is as “fated mates” to trick people who like that trope into reading this book. The romance was also just… there. I didn’t care that these people got together, casue the work had not been done to even make me like the characters on their own.
Also, the modern slang in this was so egregiously bad. “fake it til you make it” “thick thighs saves lives” who ever the beta and editing team was did not do their job in telling the author that these jokes do not work in her genre. It just throws your reader out of the story.
Also, is this book not a standalone? Why did it end acting like there was going to be another book?
Also, I’m still confused by the cover. Why does it look like that?
Why did the fmc not do more things in the forge? Like that’s her job, that is her expertise! Why was that not utilized at all outside of exactly ONE (1) knife she made?
The whole “fated mates” thing did nothing to the plot, and I’m convinced it was only added to they could tag is as “fated mates” to trick people who like that trope into reading this book. The romance was also just… there. I didn’t care that these people got together, casue the work had not been done to even make me like the characters on their own.
Also, the modern slang in this was so egregiously bad. “fake it til you make it” “thick thighs saves lives” who ever the beta and editing team was did not do their job in telling the author that these jokes do not work in her genre. It just throws your reader out of the story.
Also, is this book not a standalone? Why did it end acting like there was going to be another book?
Also, I’m still confused by the cover. Why does it look like that?
Rein Me In by Kayla Grosse
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Added 1 star for not having a third act break up!!
The inciting incident is so entirely nonsensical that i can’t move past itshe is forcibly entered into a “buy a date” auction to save HIS ranch but HE is going to bit on her date and despite the fact that all the money is going to HIS RANCH they would loose money if he won?
The inciting incident is so entirely nonsensical that i can’t move past it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Grief
A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty by Stacia Stark
adventurous
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This was so much worse than the first book. The story was so disjointed and circular. It’s like they don’t have a direction and are just running around trying to see what sticks.
The Romance is so forced and boring. If the couple has to fuck to prove they like each other it’s bad! And all the spicy scenes are boring and dragged out. I ended up skipping them after the halfway point casue they were just holding the story hostage. Can they PLEASE have a deeper connection that just physical? I’m actually begging. Also, why was the reveal that they are mates done so casually and for no reason? I literally sat there like “why did you tell me that if NOTHING was going to come of that reveal?”
I HATE HATE HATE when a couple gets together and one of them suddenly looses all their personal convictions and individuality to just be an accessory to the other. And that’s exactly what’s happening with Loren. He’s just a yes man and I’m growing so bored with him! Get your teeth back man!
I’m really glad it looks like they will be spending time apart from one another in the next book to grow as individuals.
Why did the author bend over backwards to introduce a character and given them nothing to do, and then immediately kill them TWICE?!? They were written with the intention that they would die and prove that the situation was serious and seem more “realistic” but it did not hit. We as readers form no attachment to these characters because they are introduced and then they die. Their death has no impact on the story and it’s just a lazy way to manufacture higher stakes without actually sacrificing any of the main characters.
I am so interested with the Queen’s pov. I hope we see way more of her!
Why were there just randomly flashbacks that didn’t really move the story forward and at one point actively contradict the established time line?Loren’s parents were with him when they died. Like he saw it happen, so why in the flashback is he finding out that his parents are dead by the staff bowing to his brother? Also, what is Conrad’s deal? Is he evil? What am I supposed to feel about for him?
The Romance is so forced and boring. If the couple has to fuck to prove they like each other it’s bad! And all the spicy scenes are boring and dragged out. I ended up skipping them after the halfway point casue they were just holding the story hostage. Can they PLEASE have a deeper connection that just physical? I’m actually begging. Also, why was the reveal that they are mates done so casually and for no reason? I literally sat there like “why did you tell me that if NOTHING was going to come of that reveal?”
I HATE HATE HATE when a couple gets together and one of them suddenly looses all their personal convictions and individuality to just be an accessory to the other. And that’s exactly what’s happening with Loren. He’s just a yes man and I’m growing so bored with him! Get your teeth back man!
I’m really glad it looks like they will be spending time apart from one another in the next book to grow as individuals.
Why did the author bend over backwards to introduce a character and given them nothing to do, and then immediately kill them TWICE?!? They were written with the intention that they would die and prove that the situation was serious and seem more “realistic” but it did not hit. We as readers form no attachment to these characters because they are introduced and then they die. Their death has no impact on the story and it’s just a lazy way to manufacture higher stakes without actually sacrificing any of the main characters.
I am so interested with the Queen’s pov. I hope we see way more of her!
Why were there just randomly flashbacks that didn’t really move the story forward and at one point actively contradict the established time line?
A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Did you see that? That’s how you do a plot twist! That how you do cliffhanger!!!
That’s said, these people are WAY too horny for each other for me to still believe they hate each other. Like, that plot line is tired.At least A is self aware about it! He’s there like “yeah, I’m head over heels, unfortunately my dad is mega abusive and I haven’t unpacked the trauma yet” meanwhile Talasin is like “he was my enemy, but he’s actually so hot and has a tragic backstory that ACTUALLY explains his behavior rather than just excusing it! But NO! I can’t hav feelings for him! He’s the enemy” GIRL!
Every time the describe an outfit I am AGGRESSIVELY reminded that this was a fan-fiction.
There were so many spicy scenes but for a duo of repressed virgins who had no interest in sex up until THIS MOMENT they sure knew what they were up to.
They keep mentioning the need for heirs. So HELP ME if we find out she’s pregnant in the next book I’ll scream!! In true fanfic fashion she will have twin, and it will be a boy and a girl. Mark my word! (I would prefer to be wrong)
The plot was… fine? Everything worked out? Like did anyone else feel like that was too easy? Like we hyped this up for two books and then it ends in a “shoo, go away” ? I was left wanting there.
Anyway, I need the next book with haste. Please and thank you!
That’s said, these people are WAY too horny for each other for me to still believe they hate each other. Like, that plot line is tired.
Every time the describe an outfit I am AGGRESSIVELY reminded that this was a fan-fiction.
There were so many spicy scenes but for a duo of repressed virgins who had no interest in sex up until THIS MOMENT they sure knew what they were up to.
They keep mentioning the need for heirs. So HELP ME if we find out she’s pregnant in the next book I’ll scream!! In true fanfic fashion she will have twin, and it will be a boy and a girl. Mark my word! (I would prefer to be wrong)
The plot was… fine? Everything worked out? Like did anyone else feel like that was too easy? Like we hyped this up for two books and then it ends in a “shoo, go away” ? I was left wanting there.
Anyway, I need the next book with haste. Please and thank you!