whippedstitchreads's reviews
378 reviews

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Rating 2.75⭐
Spice 0.5🌶️

ARC REVIEW

Soooo I don't even know how to feel about this book. I was intrigued at first, then bored, then picked up again.....only to leave me disappointed.

Like sure, we get a "secret" Russian mafia industry. That's pretty cool, and interesting, but gosh WHY DID IT TAKE SO DAMN LONG?! LIKE I DONT UNDERSTAND.

Also why was this book was about 15 hours long?! And, and and......Why was each chapter for the POVs about an hour each?! OMG, it was driving me nuts and I felt I was ready to move onto Mina's or Oliver's side.

I still the think the romance was rushed, because they were a part for majority of the book, which granted thats fine, but I hated the push and pull.

I have forgotten yet again, they were still considered minors....Let's just let that sink into our heads.

I received the ARC through Netgallery. And thought my reviews is honest and true, I wish the author the best of luck

Love and Other Sins by Emilia Ares

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challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Forgotten Earth by Brilynn O'Neal

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

Rating 5⭐
Spice 🌿

ARC REVIEW

The Forgotten Earth was a dystopian world I was not expecting I would love this so much. Not just that it's set in an apocalyptic world, there are fantasy elements. How the world is created is so interesting, and the magic system. I NEED to know more of the magic system, we got the general main source of it, but there are still looming questions than answers. There's also a LOT of implications that fae exist.

I couldn't stop reading, I literally had to peel my eyes away and force myself to set my iPad down. Maybe it was burn out of reading the similar books over and over again, but this book was a fresh of breath air.

There wasn't alot of detailed spice, BUTTT there was tension involved. I absorbed that shite like a sponge. And I SWEAR THERE'S A HINT OF FATED MATES, but it's not confirmed. So will be keeping an eye on that.

I received an ARC from the author, and given my full and honest review. I will look forward to the next book!

Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Desperate Measures by Katee Robert

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adventurous dark hopeful lighthearted fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Rating 5⭐
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Pastel Pink by Nikki Minty

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challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

2.75

Spice 0.5🌶️

ARC REVIEW

I was really getting into the story, hoping that I might give it a 4 star rating...until I kept listening, and the stars kept getting lower and lower.....

I agree with a few others, it was giving very YA tropes where she's so pretty that everyone else can see it but her. Also, a very much damsel in damn distress... I didn't really like that (I've been spoiled with a lof of badass feminine rage and it clearly shows)

I like the two worlds basically merging together. I wanted to know more about Zadok and what's happening on Earth, it even felt a true crimey. But that's where my compliment ends.

Everyone is a real red flag. There wasn't a person who I did like, and that really sucks.
-Harlow/Ruby too wishywashy for me and doesn't know how to make a decision without others putting thoughts into her head.
-Slater/Alex is a POS always trying to defend his brother Lucas, when he's a legit murderer....Yea no, I empathize they both had a horrible childhood, it doesn't excuse the actions he did in the present.
-Zavier is kinda annoying? I didn't understand the point of him tbh. He's supposedly a friend who always had a crush on Harlow and she's too dense about it. Throughout the story he's not even "there" lol
-Jax is mainly using Harlow for political gain, whether he knows it or not. And although his intentions are coming from a decent place, its how he shows it. No likey

I didn't like the ending of the story. Slater/Alex can go suck a cow for all I can care. I truly thought his book has very very good idea where the plot was heading, I just didn't like the actual outcome of what really happened. Will I be reading the rest? Who knows. We'll see if I want to continue suffering.

Thank you Netgallery and the publisher for allowing me to read the book. I give the author the best of luck!

A Kiss of Iron by Clare Sager

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Spice 🌶️🌶️

The story was very very VERY slow paced....My interest didnt get piqued until Ch 22, and the only reason why is because the tension was getting heated! Otherwise, I didn't really like much about the FMC. She was supposed to be "observant" and see all the details, but that mostly wasn't the case.

After 70% into the book, I realized the FMc is about 32 years old from the start of the story. We learn that she is wayy older than her younger sister. And a certain traumatizing scene confirmed she was 15 years old during that scene and the sister was about 8 years old. Do a little math with other information we had, she's in her early 30s. Sooo this FMC is definitely a lot older than most MCs....Which I liked but didn't.

I hate the family dynamic she has...The whole talk about "my uncle hurt me, but he's still family" to me is utter effing bullshite. And yes I get it, its gaslight one self blah blah, it doesn't mean I have to agree with it.

I'm also not going to talk about they never really did bangity bang, and I was SOO DAMN BUMMED ABOUT IT. Anyway, I'm done ranting....I might finish the trilogy, but we'll see how my mood is.

Breeding my aunt in the church by Charlie Charon

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funny lighthearted fast-paced