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vicktorea's reviews
443 reviews
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
finally a Black, NA/college romance!
New adult / college romances aren't my thing anymore, but, perhaps that has to do with the fact that I've:
1. outgrown the genre; and
2. never read a NA romance with characters like me (Black)!
There seems to be more diversity in YA and Adult but NA seems to be lacking in (visual) diversity (pls point me in the direction of NA Black romances, friends) - so it was great to see it in this book! That said, I think because it was NA (and therefore less relatable for me in that aspect) it made it a bit hard for me to get into at first - it felt slow at times.
I really appreciated the author's writing and the way Afro-Caribbean culture was heavily embedded throughout this (slang and all) - it felt so relatable and I found myself giggling throughout.
I loved our main girl Kiki - she was a confident, strong and smart heroine and felt so relatable to me in terms of her Blackness and how she felt about relationships.
overall, a fun read! I'd pick up more from this author (esp an adult romance)!
thank you, HarperCollins Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
New adult / college romances aren't my thing anymore, but, perhaps that has to do with the fact that I've:
1. outgrown the genre; and
2. never read a NA romance with characters like me (Black)!
There seems to be more diversity in YA and Adult but NA seems to be lacking in (visual) diversity (pls point me in the direction of NA Black romances, friends) - so it was great to see it in this book! That said, I think because it was NA (and therefore less relatable for me in that aspect) it made it a bit hard for me to get into at first - it felt slow at times.
I really appreciated the author's writing and the way Afro-Caribbean culture was heavily embedded throughout this (slang and all) - it felt so relatable and I found myself giggling throughout.
I loved our main girl Kiki - she was a confident, strong and smart heroine and felt so relatable to me in terms of her Blackness and how she felt about relationships.
overall, a fun read! I'd pick up more from this author (esp an adult romance)!
thank you, HarperCollins Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
American Royalty by Tracey Livesay
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
3.75
cute, sweet and royally spicy!
I really enjoyed this! I loved the FMC, Dani! She was confident and unapologetically herself - a Black queen! I loved the Blackness of this book! đđœ
I also liked the MMC. Jameson. He was a little bland but I loved how prim and proper he was on the outside but was able to be himself around Dani. He was definitely a gentleman in the street and a freak in the sheets đ„.
My main criticism is how the Brits were written at times. I wouldâve appreciated more attention to details surrounding British colloquialisms - the basics were there but that tad extra research wouldâve made things that much more believable. For example, one of the Royal British characters said something like âI shouldâve known [âŠ] when you got an attitudeâ; a Royal would never speak that way and I found it cringey. I also didnât find it believable that the queenâs children, who were well into their 50s, behaved like teens. They just seemed so crass and low class with the way their scandals were described. I wouldâve found it more believable if their âscandalsâ had been been older events that had been discovered but for them to be having the way they were at 50 made zero sense.
Overall, I found this entertaining and I really enjoyed the romance between Dani & Jameson !
Thank you so much to HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this! I loved the FMC, Dani! She was confident and unapologetically herself - a Black queen! I loved the Blackness of this book! đđœ
I also liked the MMC. Jameson. He was a little bland but I loved how prim and proper he was on the outside but was able to be himself around Dani. He was definitely a gentleman in the street and a freak in the sheets đ„.
My main criticism is how the Brits were written at times. I wouldâve appreciated more attention to details surrounding British colloquialisms - the basics were there but that tad extra research wouldâve made things that much more believable. For example, one of the Royal British characters said something like âI shouldâve known [âŠ] when you got an attitudeâ; a Royal would never speak that way and I found it cringey. I also didnât find it believable that the queenâs children, who were well into their 50s, behaved like teens. They just seemed so crass and low class with the way their scandals were described. I wouldâve found it more believable if their âscandalsâ had been been older events that had been discovered but for them to be having the way they were at 50 made zero sense.
Overall, I found this entertaining and I really enjoyed the romance between Dani & Jameson !
Thank you so much to HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Classism
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
adventurous
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? Yes
3.75
Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
love isnât a decision. It arrives unannounced, breeds madness, and leaves a sea of ruin in its wake
(this is going to be a very scattered review as i just finished this and haven't fully collected my thoughts but anyway) i really enjoyed this!! it was my first ever historical romance and i loved the action and adventure (pirate romances might be a new thing for me [esp if the FMC is a pirate herself!]) along with the FMC (Bennett) and her fierceness - she didn't feel pretentious or annoying!
this was super sexy but also super dark throughout various points of the story (see CWs above).
also, Priest đ„”đ„
This was the first book I've read from Pam Godwin and I'm excited to read more (hopefully she writes more pirate romances đ€đœ).
(this is going to be a very scattered review as i just finished this and haven't fully collected my thoughts but anyway) i really enjoyed this!! it was my first ever historical romance and i loved the action and adventure (pirate romances might be a new thing for me [esp if the FMC is a pirate herself!]) along with the FMC (Bennett) and her fierceness - she didn't feel pretentious or annoying!
this was super sexy but also super dark throughout various points of the story (see CWs above).
also, Priest đ„”đ„
This was the first book I've read from Pam Godwin and I'm excited to read more (hopefully she writes more pirate romances đ€đœ).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-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
3.5
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was fine - KMM's YA murder mysteries are fun but this one wasn't as chilling or punchy for me. The ending felt really odd & unfinished (I'm wondering if she's going to use that development in a future book?).
I'd had a lot of theories about the direction this was headed and while they were right for the most part, I liked my own theories on how things were going to play out more than the direction the book actually took. KMM is an autobuy for me because I love YA murder mysteries but I really need her to come back with something chilling that packs a punch otherwise she will be removed from my autobuy list lmao.
I'd had a lot of theories about the direction this was headed and while they were right for the most part, I liked my own theories on how things were going to play out more than the direction the book actually took. KMM is an autobuy for me because I love YA murder mysteries but I really need her to come back with something chilling that packs a punch otherwise she will be removed from my autobuy list lmao.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
Book of Night by Holly Black
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
this book taught me how to pick-pocket.
In all seriousness it was good. Not amazing; not terrible - fine. Gave Ninth House vibes (idk why other than it was a YA author transitioning to adult fantasy?) except I could kinda grasp this more than Ninth House. May come back with a more in-depth review later & Iâll prob read book 2.
In all seriousness it was good. Not amazing; not terrible - fine. Gave Ninth House vibes (idk why other than it was a YA author transitioning to adult fantasy?) except I could kinda grasp this more than Ninth House. May come back with a more in-depth review later & Iâll prob read book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood
Moderate: Death, Murder
Minor: Death of parent
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tragically, beautifully & deliciously messy
This was pretty good - I loved the Blackness; it was super relatable! I liked the focus / discussions on grief and how hard it can be to navigate, deal and even allow yourself to move on from it.
I liked the bit of messiness and drama but the main romance itself just wasn't speaking to me - it felt like the couple only had their grief in common but I'm glad they felt safe enough with one another to talk about their grief, past relationships and share aspects of themselves they weren't privy to sharing with others.
3.5 âïž
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was pretty good - I loved the Blackness; it was super relatable! I liked the focus / discussions on grief and how hard it can be to navigate, deal and even allow yourself to move on from it.
I liked the bit of messiness and drama but the main romance itself just wasn't speaking to me - it felt like the couple only had their grief in common but I'm glad they felt safe enough with one another to talk about their grief, past relationships and share aspects of themselves they weren't privy to sharing with others.
3.5 âïž
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Death, Car accident
The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
i never know whatâs going on burning that ending????
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder