wendeedeedee36's reviews
254 reviews

Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn

4.0

I blew through this book and cannot wait to get to the rest of the series. I really like the world building and I LOVE the Arthurian vibes…Especially once you toss in some fae action too. Morgan is a little frustrating for me because I would lose patience with her being timid and she is very naive, but I think that also leaves a lot of room for her character growth in the later books. There were certain twists I was able to predict, but specific one the end had more to it than I was expecting, and it definitely took me by surprise. I’m really looking forward to see how certain relationships develop moving forward as well as the stories of some of the supporting characters. 

Single Player by Tara Tai

4.0

Single Player was fun and quirky, but also touched on some deeper points. The first chapter had me thinking this might not be my cup of tea, but it grew on me and I ended up enjoying it way more than I expected to. The workplace romance, reluctant coworkers to lovers, opposites attract vibes were really fun. I liked that you saw Andy work through their trauma from their first job, and broke through their hard exterior to find someone who just wanted to be accepted. I also really liked how - despite how different they seem - Cat is similarly looking for someone to accept her true self. Bottling herself up to fit to the norm was tough, and it was refreshing when all her chaotic energy would burst out with Andy. I think the toxic environment in the gaming industry was also intriguing and something that doesn’t surprise me l, even though I had never really reflected into on it before now. 
Overall, I think this was a great mix of romcom and social observations and I enjoyed myself a lot. Natalie Naudus did a great job representing both characters and making the sound different and real. She conveys a lot of emotions and little sound effects that really brought the story to life. 

A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson

5.0

A Language of Dragons is an absolute masterpiece! It has magic and dragons, while also relating back to our own world history and our political/societal struggles. I really liked the steampunk aspect to the story, and the fantastical take on code breakers. It’s a complex story with a very heavy topics. I can honestly, say I feel a little wrecked after finishing the book, and I still loved it. 
The line between “you are what society forces you to be” and “you are responsible for your choices”  is such a thin one, and it is a crucial topic in A Language of Dragons. Vivian is definitely a flawed heroine and - for me at least - she was not very likable character for 95% of the story. She is a product of her society and the pressures it puts on children to excel on the test, no matter the cost. She’s done horrible things for the sake of her ambition as a result . However, I feel like she uses her “rottenness” as an excuse to continue being selfish, rather than doing what is right. She gets there in the end but she sure did cut it close to the wire. 
All in all, I highly recommend ALOD to everyone but caution the reader to know it is HEAVY and you don’t necessarily get a happy ending. Definitely read this if you are a fan of books like Bright Over Moon Haven

Fate & Furies by Helen Scheuerer

5.0

A Promise of Lies by Clare Sager

5.0

I’m so sad to have this series come to an end, and yet so very happy with everything about it. I loved Kat’s journey through the series and seeing her come to terms with the idea of LIVING rather than SURVIVING. I think the fact that the series basically comes full circle with Kat being a court spy was perfect. Bastian’s own trials to overcome the way he was groomed and gaslighted for almost 2 decades was also very poignant and well written. Their romance, devotion, and journey as a couple was so sweet, and deliciously spicy. Sager definitely made good on promises made earlier in the series and upped the 🥵 level in this book. The found family aspect of this series is a particular favorite of mine, and I’m now more determined than ever to read Sager’s other series about all of these wonderful characters. 

Clean Point by Meg Jones

4.25

I always think I’m not a huge Sports Romance fan until I read one, and then I remember I’m wrong 😆 First of all, I LOVED the dynamic between Scottie and Nico! They’re arguing, enemies to allies to lovers vibes are perfection. I love Nico’s insulting nickname for Scottie, and I especially love that it ends up sticking in the end. 
Second. The redemption plot in this is amazing. I was genuinely invested in everything happening. 
Third, the spice was fantastic without it overwhelming the plot. Nico’s bedroom talk also had me 🥵
Finally, the narrators are wonderful! I have been a fan of Mary Jane Wells for a while from her historical romance narrations. She, as per usual, did a great job. i had not heard of Patrick Zeller before this but I can safely say I would pick to a book simply if he’s listed as the narrator. I love his voice and the way he brings the story to life.

The Shiver Tree by Holly Searcy
Did not finish book.

I think it is probably an interesting story. The writing seemed to be good as well. I just couldn’t get into it for some reason. 

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard

4.0

I’m a fan of Amalie Howard’s historical romances so I was very excited to get this new fantasy book, and I am glad to say I enjoyed it a lot. Once I got into it I didn’t want to stop reading. I found it interesting that the main plot in this book seems to be resolved, and it almost felt like it could be a standalone novel. However, there are just enough little questions left that I’m excited to see how this twists and turns to continue in into a series. 
Suraya was a good FMC overall. She was a little naive and immature, but she was also strong and determined. I think she has a lot of potential to grow as the story continues. Roshan was a good love interest for her. He was attentive and able to take control of any situations that came up. I had the feeling from the start that he isn’t end game and I feel I’m correct after finishing the book, but I could be wrong and it wouldn’t be a bad thing. I’m most interested to see more of Darrius in the following books. I think he could present a really good enemies to lovers plot if it goes the way I think.

Slaying the Shadow Prince by Helen Scheuerer

4.25

This was great! Even though this is a prequel, I’m really glad I chose to read it after Vows & Ruins because it had a great impact and a lot of “AHA” moments in relation to the rest of the series so far. It has me even more hyped to jump into Fate & Furies. 
Talemir is amazing and a bit of a cocky bastard. I really enjoyed his banter with Drue and Wilder. Drue was a great FMC. She had moments where she was a little too stubborn and didn’t see the other side of things, but that just makes her more human.

A Kingdom so Crimson by Emmory Jarman

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is a very good debut for Emmory. The story and concept are interesting, and I think there is a great foundation for this series to develop into something great. I’m definitely intrigued by the ending, and I liked the bonus chapters with other POVs. On the other hand, I think this could have been much shorter. It almost felt like two stories and dragged a bit for me. I think The Match should have occurred much earlier than 75%, and that we maybe didn’t need as much of the world building/development that went in before it. I felt there were too many instances of pointing out Eliah’s inexplicable rage issues - which are of course important - but overdone. I do however like her resilience through everything, especially The Match.
Overall, I think this is a solid book to start the series and am interested to see where it goes from here.