Andie
3.5 stars
This book needed more than 300 pages.
I enjoyed the ending but it could have been much better. Some things were too convenient, Jude's character development was weak (she seemed off through a large part of this book) and some things were added almost at the end to be resolved in a couple of chapters.
I was right about the solution for that ending of the Wicked King... and I'm mad about it.
In spite of it all, I still enjoyed reading it. It was addictive and very entertaining.
2.5 stars
This book was underwhelming, I was expecting much more.
The premise is amazing and exciting but the execution... not so much.
The characters were underdeveloped and some events felt too convenient.
The story is told through Lore's POV and it might have been better for character development if there were multiple POVs. It felt like the story was unbalanced if that makes sense.
Some aspects of it were very creepy.
I did enjoy the flashbacks that gave us glimpses of Lore's past. The fight scenes were really good and I was curious how it would all end.
There are a lot of trigger warnings, so beware of that if you want to read it.
TWs: murder (including children); rape/sexual assault; loss of loved ones; grief; terminal illness; misogyny; abuse; gore; graphic violence; pedophilia; slavery.
Matthew McConaughey's narration was really good and he was a funny story teller.
I had mixed feelings through it, some of it was interesting and enjoyable, part of it felt unnecessary and oversimplified or maybe Matthew McConaughey just wanted to keep it light.
I enjoyed listening to it but I didn't love it.
Books, Coffee & Passion
I didn't read any reviews because I didn't want to be influenced before writing this post and it will be a long one with spoilers! So, please stop reading if you didn't read ACOSF and you still want to read it.
A Court of Silver Flames was a rollercoaster. I was very entertained while reading Nesta and Cassian's story. These two were so hot together! After reading ACOFAS, we all knew their story would be a tough journey. Nesta wasn't making it easy for anyone, she isolated herself and she was lashing out repeatedly. I didn't expect a smooth journey. It wasn't. The mental health struggles that Nesta was going through in ACOSF, and before, were hard to read, which only means it was well done. As a reader, and loving Cassian like I already did, it was sometimes hard to not be annoyed with Nesta. She hurt Cassian repeatedly, she lashed at him again and again and sometimes I was annoyed at her because of that. It was also hard not to be annoyed when Nesta dismissed Feyre, Cassian and Rhy's traumas. I get that it was her own self loathing and the fact that she was spiraling, drowning in her own grief and depression talking. But it was even harder when she kept repeating the cycle. However, that's just the thing with mental health, it's different for everyone, it has lots of ups and downs, a good day and then three awful days and/or vice versa. Nesta was definitely stuck in a depressive, self destructive pattern. Her struggles with mental health, the messages to keep going, Amren telling Cassian to keep reaching out his hand, the mind-stilling technique, her growth and her healing were really well done. In my opinion SJM did great regarding the mental health rep.There were a lot of great moments in this book. I loved Nesta's found family: Emerie and Gwyn. These two were amazing characters, the way they bonded with Nesta, the way all three of them opened up to each other: PERFECTION. Valkyries, yeeees! I loved that aspect of the story and cheered when Gwyn finally cut the ribbon. I enjoyed their moments together and I hope we get more of their bond in the next books in the series. I also loved the House, the fact that Nesta wished for a friend and the House fulfilled her wish by becoming her friend was so good! The romance novels love was amazing too. The inner circle moments, even though Mor wasn't in much of the story, felt special. The Blood Rite had stunning, fierce scenes, particularly the scene where they share their fears and the traumas they went through, it was very emotional and so well written. Emerie carrying a sleeping, unwilling to leave Nesta alone, Gwyn to victory and Nesta holding the line was one of the most stunning impactful scenes that definitely stayed with me.I enjoyed the plot in this book too. The Trove and its history, the quest to find the made objects was enthralling. Nesta's scenes with the kelpie were amazing and it actually scared me when she was pulled underwater. Beron and the Autumn Court involvement with Briallyn kept me invested in the story and I kept second guessing if Eris was playing Rhys and Cassian and was involved in Briallyn's plans as well. There were some things that annoyed me: Rhys withholding from Feyre that she and the baby can die when she gives birth was awful and I hated that he did that; Nesta telling Feyre about that in anger was nasty; the dying not dying part that apparently is a recurring thing in ACOTAR's books annoyed me too. I enjoyed how Nesta ended up saving Feyre and telling her, finally!, she loved her but it could have been done differently. Especially considering that Nesta gave away all her power to save Feyre which is just repetitive again (because it's similar to what Amren did in ACOWAR). Additionally, that mating bond reaction... I think it was unnecessary and it only served the purpose of pushing Cassian off scene and snatching Nesta, Emerie and Gwyn together for the Blood Rite. However, my main issue with ACOSF is a issue that I've also had with ACOMAF and ACOWAR: everything was solved so easily. I enjoyed the prison visit but the fact that Lanthys was killed like that felt anticlimactic and the battle between Nesta and Briallyn went the same way, it was over in a blink of an eye.
Overall, I really enjoyed ACOSF. There were beautifully written scenes and it was very entertaining, with great banter, lots of steamy moments and powerful, emotional connections. I was captivated by the story, had trouble putting the book down and I absolutely love this addictive world. On the other hand, like I said there were things that annoyed me and the major one was how easily somethings were solved to the point it felt anticlimatic.
If you want to check my sidenotes and Azriel/Lucien/Gwynn/Elaine stuff, check my full thoughts (with spoilers too)here.
This is a very powerful important anthology.
Families moving from their home country to a new one, leaving family and friends behind not knowing if they would see them again in the future, packing their whole live in one suitcase, feeling unsafe in their new country... it's gut-wrenching. So many different journeys. Almost every single one of these stories packed a punch and had such powerful messages.
There was only one story that I didn't enjoy.
I think everyone should read this.
I finished this in one day! I was really invested in the story.
It's a very atmospheric read and sometimes it was hard to listen to it but I just couldn't stop. The two timelines and the two cases were enthralling.
I also loved the podcast parts! I think it's a very unique book but it's not an easy book to read/listen.
There are trigger warnings for pretty much everything.
The ending had a few surprising details. Overall, I really enjoyed this one.
Whoa, this book packs a punch. It was hard to listen to it at certain points.
Demi Moore was so open about so much in her life. Her relationship with her parents, her struggle with addictions and eating disorder, her low self esteem and how it impacted in her relationships, it's her life, her story. It's raw, powerful and real.
My story is mine alone. I'm the only one who was there for all of it, and I decided to claim the power to tell it on my own terms.
Almost every character in this book did a full 180 comparing to the first book.
I think that not much made sense character wise. Maybe this was supposed to be a trilogy and not a duology?
In a way, two of the couples in this book definitely fit together but there was no transition so it felt forced and rushed.
Overall, it was just an okay read.
I wanted to love The Boyfriend Project. I enjoyed it but some things didn't work out for me.
I loved the tech setting, loved Samiah's character (kickass heroine for sure), her friendship with Taylor and London was amazing, actually my favorite moments were when these 3 characters were together. I enjoyed Daniel's character too and his inner struggles and I liked the suspense his character brought to the story. I even enjoyed how much of their tech work was described and discussed even though the romance fell to the sidelines at those moments.
What I really didn't like was Daniel's choice that led to the conflict in their romance. Samiah deserved better, so much better. Also, I didn't think it made much sense that he ended up revealing himself as an undercover agent when they arrested Samiah's coworkers.
Overall, I liked it but I didn't love it.
Dear Girls was funny! I laughed a lot while I was listening to it. It was crude but I was already expecting it to be. Anyone who has watched Ali Wong's stand up shows knows what to expect.
If you don't like Ali Wong's humor, you won't like this book.
I found it entertaining, funny, hilarious at times and very genuine. I loved her husband's chapter, it was so sweet!
Overall, I had a great time listening to it.
This was a cool story.
What I liked:
the futuristic very interesting world;
the Lunar vs Earth brewing conflict;
the cyborgs;
the political intrigue.
Didn't really care for:
the romance;
the predictability (we all knew who Cinder was);
underdeveloped characters
I wish Cinder would have been a Lunar cyborg girl and not a lost Princess.
It was still an enjoyable read and I'm hoping it gets better in the next book, so I'll keep on reading this series.
Books, Coffee & Passion
Balls to the Wall is a very emotional friends to enemies to lovers romance. In my opinion, this book felt a lot like a second chance romance except it wasn't really one because Remy and Parker never really dated each other. But there were a lot of past (and present) feelings between them.
I was a bit confused at first when I started reading because I couldn't quite figure out what could've possibly happen between Remy and Parker. Honestly, it took me a while to really grasp how their friendship, or lack thereof, and their feelings evolved through the years. There were so many hidden feelings, so much angst, so many hidden emotions and misunderstandings. There was so much history between these two that my heart broke mainly for Parker.
This is a very emotional story. Parker went through a lot in her life, living in a small town where everyone shared opinions on what she should do and everyone thought they knew what really happened between her, Remy and Danny, her husband, before they were deployed overseas. Remy was a cop now, back home, but he kept his distance from Parker even though he promised Danny that he would watch out for her. Slowly, we get the full picture of what really happened between Remy and Parker. Which brings me to the reason I didn't love Remy, his motives for staying away from Parker didn't make sense to me. I definitely understood why he pushed her away before his first deployment but it just didn't make sense how he was still keeping himself totally removed from Parker's life in the beginning of the book. Also, Parker should have definitely made him grovel. I think there were a lot of secrets and guilt that just generated a lot of hurt especially in Parker's, and also in Remy's, lives.
Remy had some redeeming qualities: the letters were amazing (you'll get it if you read the book) and his relationship with Nox was heart warming and cute. His character development was good but he never really won me over. Parker and Remy had a lot of chemistry between them, so I certainly enjoyed when things started happening between them. I really enjoyed the secondary characters, the small town setting and I'm very intrigued about the next book in this series that will be Kennedy, Parker's best friend and my favorite secondary character, and Linc's story. I'll definitely read the next one in this series.
Books, Coffee & Passion
Blindsided is the true definition of enemies-to-lovers, like Montague and Capulet level, because the Addler-Todd feud is just as legendary!
Tate and Maggie have known, and hated, each other since they were kids. Now they are sophomores at Moo U, while Tate is the hot talented hockey player with a very certain bright future in the NHL, Maggie is really smart and is planning big things with her sister for their family farm. The Adler's farm is right next to the Todd's farm and that just keeps the feud very much alive. I found it very funny that both Tate and Maggie hated each other, and each other's families, without really understanding why. Nobody knows exactly how their families feud started, except grandfather Todd and grandfather Adler and they're not sharing that info.
This story made me laugh a lot, Maggie and Tate tactics of sabotaging each other, their banter, how everyone in their families were always willing to participate in their crazy ideas just to get the upper hand provided so many hilarious scenes. My favorite character in this book is definitely Tate. He was amazing! Hot, sexy, funny, smart, very loyal to his family, really hard working and even though he definitely hated the Todds, sometimes he questioned why exactly he was supposed to hate them. I loved Tate! Maggie was also a great character, hot, sexy, funny, really smart, fierce, never backing out of a fight but I had an issue with her plans for her family farm and Adler's farm (not going to be very specific because I don't want to spoil any details). That annoyed me and it kind of bothered me that her plans remained the same even when she was already involved with Tate. Fortunately, that changed a little bit later into the story and Maggie slowly revealed her heart.
The chemistry between Tate and Maggie was perfect and it exploded! These two together almost burned my Kindle! I loved the push and pull between them, loved that we get to know how their families feud started and I wasn't close to guessing that one: totally unexpected and really enjoyable. The ending was flawless and I loved it.
Overall, a very entertaining, steamy, full of banter enemies to lovers romance with amazing characters and perfect chemistry. Strongly recommended to anyone who enjoys a very well written enemies to lovers romance. I'll definitely read the next books in the Moo U series!
I'm obsessed with the Bromance Book Club. I think what lacked from this one was more of the club in this story. This book focus on a very serious topic and maybe that's why we don't get as much bromance book club as in the first one. I absolutely loved Mack, it took me a while to warm up to Liv but I ended up loving her too.
Really excited to read the next one in this series!
Whoa, this series is really surprising me. The political intrigue and the scheming was off the charts in The Wicked King. I couldn't put it down! And that ending... SCREAMS!
Well, I hope the solution to the situation Jude's in by the end of this book isn't what I think it is because she's not a dumb character and THAT would make her dumb.
Off to read The Queen of Nothing.
This series is not for me. I like Natasha Madison's writing but this series, I've also read book 1, clearly doesn't work for me.
There were some scenes well written mainly between Viktor and his sponsor and I enjoyed some of the hockey details.
The romance was a slow build but then it exploded in ways that didn't make much sense. The way a specific character (Zoe) behaved in a specific scene (Viktor was in trouble) was absolutely awful and nothing could have saved this book for me.
The thing were all the guys are obsessing with how the women dress and tell them to change or whatever IS NOT OK. This is not sexy behavior and we shouldn't put up with it saying it's alpha male behavior because NEWS FLASH it's NOT! That's BS.
I won't be reading any more books in this series.
This book starts very promising, the tweets were freaking funny and I felt like I was going to love this and then, when they start hanging out, everything went downhill.
This guy was obsessed the clothes Zara wore and he even told her to change, THIS IS NOT OK. This is not sexy behavior and we shouldn't put up with it saying it's alpha male behavior because NEWS FLASH it's NOT! That's BS. NO, NO, NO. Really disappointed in this one. Not my type of romance.