Take a photo of a barcode or cover
whippedstitchreads's reviews
390 reviews
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
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
Daddy's Punishment by AR Taboo
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Peep Show by AR Taboo
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Last Home for Evelyn by Kaymie Wuerfel
The feels were real in this book. I honestly I didn't know how I was going to react to this. I am very late make this review, but I think it was worth it.
Of course with any books, I felt there could have been more. I would have liked to have more Evelyn's POV a bit, how she after being adopted. She explains about it, but it we didn't get to experience it through her. If we had, it would bring help shape her character more. Because we mainly get Ryder's POV, his character is more molded so there are feelings about him than Evelyn. For someone who hasn't read the other two standalones, I got a lot of info from Ryder.
For my spice girlies, the spice was a more fade to black and defnitely more on the tamed side. Granted they did bang in the confession chamber at a catholic church...soooo there's that.
Note: Because I didn't read the previous standalones, I did not read the "Last Epilogue." I plan to go back and read them, and then finally get the HEA they deserve.
I received an ARC from the author, and though my review is honest and true, I wish them the best of luck! Truly, the book was really good and so far the best ARC story I have read in 2025
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
Spice 🌶 .5
ARC REVIEW
The feels were real in this book. I honestly I didn't know how I was going to react to this. I am very late make this review, but I think it was worth it.
Of course with any books, I felt there could have been more. I would have liked to have more Evelyn's POV a bit, how she after being adopted. She explains about it, but it we didn't get to experience it through her. If we had, it would bring help shape her character more. Because we mainly get Ryder's POV, his character is more molded so there are feelings about him than Evelyn. For someone who hasn't read the other two standalones, I got a lot of info from Ryder.
For my spice girlies, the spice was a more fade to black and defnitely more on the tamed side. Granted they did bang in the confession chamber at a catholic church...soooo there's that.
Note: Because I didn't read the previous standalones, I did not read the "Last Epilogue." I plan to go back and read them, and then finally get the HEA they deserve.
I received an ARC from the author, and though my review is honest and true, I wish them the best of luck! Truly, the book was really good and so far the best ARC story I have read in 2025
How To Marry A Marble Marquis by C.M. Nascosta
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.75
The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
3.75
Spice ⭐⭐.5
ARC REVIEW
PSA: I listened to the ARC audiobook so some names will be misspelled. I didn't receive a map nor glossary for the book when given the audio by the publishers.
I liked the premise of the story. The world taking place was beautiful and for once I liked it was a different take of fantasy. The story felt inspired by desert parts of the real world, (I would say Middle East, but there's more countreis than just those). I do however, felt specific scenes throughout the book felt very rushed.
Scene 1: The 'games and trial' that really gave me The Selection Trilogy vibes. It only lasted 2-3 days, and I personally felt it could have lasted a little bit longer, about a full week or even two. Let it really sink how dangerous the marriage games to Prince Javid(?) So because of that, the new found friendship with Clem(?) didn't feel genuine. Suraya barely meets her and already freaking out about Clem's(?) whereabouts when the rebellion (i'm not even going to try to spell it) comes in and attacks the kingdom.
Scene 2: Where the story moves to the rebellion hideout, sanction. Roshan and Suraya are hiding out in the sanction, and Suraya learning about her magic. I wouldn't say her training arc there, but I would have liked to know about Aran's(?) magic and how the magic in the world truly works. I couldnt envision it in my head so it was hard to remember what was what. The magi and other phrases I can't spell nor quite remember. I also really think the connection between Roshan and Suraya could have been a little bit more on page then off page in all honesty. The spicy scene.....just wasn't great, but it's still better than spirit splooge (ifykyk, if not, then read Vesselless)
I also very VERY tired of ommiting truths and "secrets" trope. Suraya getting mad about that, sure fine that's how she feels, but she literally contradicted herself. Roshan said he has secrets, and guess what Suraya says? SHE SAYS ITS OKAY TO HAVE SECRETS. SO WTF WAS THAT BACKTRACKING FOR WHEN YOU YOURSELF SAID IT WAS FINE?! I'm calm, I'm calm, its fine. (It's not really fine)
The book could have been more than 14 hours. I wouldn't it have minded more information and back history. More about the Death God that we get snippets of the POV from and how Suraya is his fated mate Heck, just more connection between the characters. I thought this author was a debuting for the first time, but she has written other works. So I will say, please don't be scared to have the book be bigger, indie/debuting or not. This book a real potentail that could have been a 5 star rating for me.
I received an ARC audiobook from Netgallery. Though my review is honest and true, I will the author the best of luck. Thank you HarperAudio for allowing me to listen
I liked the premise of the story. The world taking place was beautiful and for once I liked it was a different take of fantasy. The story felt inspired by desert parts of the real world, (I would say Middle East, but there's more countreis than just those). I do however, felt specific scenes throughout the book felt very rushed.
Scene 2: Where the story moves to the rebellion hideout, sanction. Roshan and Suraya are hiding out in the sanction, and Suraya learning about her magic. I wouldn't say her training arc there, but I would have liked to know about Aran's(?) magic and how the magic in the world truly works. I couldnt envision it in my head so it was hard to remember what was what. The magi and other phrases I can't spell nor quite remember. I also really think the connection between Roshan and Suraya could have been a little bit more on page then off page in all honesty. The spicy scene.....just wasn't great, but it's still better than spirit splooge (ifykyk, if not, then read Vesselless)
I also very VERY tired of ommiting truths and "secrets" trope. Suraya getting mad about that, sure fine that's how she feels, but she literally contradicted herself. Roshan said he has secrets, and guess what Suraya says? SHE SAYS ITS OKAY TO HAVE SECRETS. SO WTF WAS THAT BACKTRACKING FOR WHEN YOU YOURSELF SAID IT WAS FINE?! I'm calm, I'm calm, its fine. (It's not really fine)
The book could have been more than 14 hours. I wouldn't it have minded more information and back history.
I received an ARC audiobook from Netgallery. Though my review is honest and true, I will the author the best of luck. Thank you HarperAudio for allowing me to listen
To Ravish A Rogue by C.M. Nascosta
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.75
Spice 🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
Captured Beauty by Tay Mo'Nae
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book was very lackluster. There were too make mini time jumps, or scenery changes that I couldn't didn't know where I was in the story. There wasn't a smooth transition. I don't really expect much world building in modern romances, but I couldn't vision the world nor the characters. Heck, I don't even know what MMC and FMC appearances are. I only know FMC has caramel skin and honey blond curls? MMC is tall and has a scarred face... not to mention<blockquote><i>His dick was as big as a king sized snicker bar<i></blockquote> Spicy scenes were good.....but could have been great if it was better written. I am also tired of the overuse of the word d*ck, so there's that.
Onto the characters....the WAS NO chemistry between the MMC and FMC, nothing nada, nothing they can really talk about, aside from bangity bang. Also, for one MMC is 1000% not emotionally mature (whether or not having a bad childhood). I didn't find him attractive, and his temper tantrums were a BIG turn off. I didn't even care for his POV either. FMC....was just the perfect toy to bend and be trained into what the MMC wanted...
This isn't my first dark romance, but this book wasn't for me. Nothing about the MMC I found was attractive, and was just basically legit Stockholm syndrome. And if this was the author's intent, then good job, you did it well.
I received the audiobook from Netgallery. Though my thoughts are honest and true, I wish the author best of luck. I thank the publishers for letting me listen.
This book was very lackluster. There were too make mini time jumps, or scenery changes that I couldn't didn't know where I was in the story. There wasn't a smooth transition. I don't really expect much world building in modern romances, but I couldn't vision the world nor the characters. Heck, I don't even know what MMC and FMC appearances are. I only know FMC has caramel skin and honey blond curls? MMC is tall and has a scarred face... not to mention
Onto the characters....the WAS NO chemistry between the MMC and FMC, nothing nada, nothing they can really talk about, aside from bangity bang. Also, for one MMC is 1000% not emotionally mature (whether or not having a bad childhood). I didn't find him attractive, and his temper tantrums were a BIG turn off. I didn't even care for his POV either. FMC....was just the perfect toy to bend and be trained into what the MMC wanted...
This isn't my first dark romance, but this book wasn't for me. Nothing about the MMC I found was attractive, and was just basically legit Stockholm syndrome. And if this was the author's intent, then good job, you did it well.
I received the audiobook from Netgallery. Though my thoughts are honest and true, I wish the author best of luck. I thank the publishers for letting me listen.