Eryca Liskovec
Added to listOwnedwith 1 book.
Updated a reading goal:
Read 150 books by December 31, 2025
Progress so far: 0 / 150 0%
Updated a reading goal:
Read 150 books by December 31, 2025
Progress so far: 0 / 150 0%
I wanted to like this book so badly, and I think there is a lot to like - the characters are fun (if a little one dimensional), the concept is something I was excited about, and starting each chapter with letters to Lady Agony was cute.
I could not get into the writing of this book, however. There were long portions of the book when it seemed like all of the sentences were the same length, which took away from the flow of reading. The author also doesn't seem to trust her own writing, or doesn't trust the reader to decipher it. For example, there was a scene when the two lead characters were calling on a lady and wished to speak to her maid. She brings the maid into the room:
“Deeply appreciated,” said Simon. “We'll ring if we need further assistance.”
Amelia was glad for his comment. His statement indicated that they planned on talking to Lena alone.
We all understood that from his comment, including the character who then left the room so they could talk to Lena alone. Having this over explained is truly, maybe irrationally, irritating to me. If this really, really needed to be communicated, phrasing it something like "Amelia was thankful for his approach so that they could speak to Lena alone," would show insight into the characters without patronizing the reader.
I don't know if the book just needs a better edit, or if the author just needs to believe in her own writing, but I ended up only reading about 50% of the book before calling it. Again, there was a lot of potential here, and I hope for the best as this series moves forward.
I wanted to like this book so badly, and I think there is a lot to like - the characters are fun (if a little one dimensional), the concept is something I was excited about, and starting each chapter with letters to Lady Agony was cute.
I could not get into the writing of this book, however. There were long portions of the book when it seemed like all of the sentences were the same length, which took away from the flow of reading. The author also doesn't seem to trust her own writing, or doesn't trust the reader to decipher it. For example, there was a scene when the two lead characters were calling on a lady and wished to speak to her maid. She brings the maid into the room:
“Deeply appreciated,” said Simon. “We'll ring if we need further assistance.”
Amelia was glad for his comment. His statement indicated that they planned on talking to Lena alone.
We all understood that from his comment, including the character who then left the room so they could talk to Lena alone. Having this over explained is truly, maybe irrationally, irritating to me. If this really, really needed to be communicated, phrasing it something like "Amelia was thankful for his approach so that they could speak to Lena alone," would show insight into the characters without patronizing the reader.
I don't know if the book just needs a better edit, or if the author just needs to believe in her own writing, but I ended up only reading about 50% of the book before calling it. Again, there was a lot of potential here, and I hope for the best as this series moves forward.
I honestly wanted to love this book, and I think a lot of the concepts and creativity with the magic system/supernatural beings have so much potential. The first 60% of this book flew by, and then I started to get hung up.
The author has some beautiful descriptions and imagery, but also has some places where the writing is stilted and can jar you right out of the scene. The author would also be very repetitive about certain things - to the point of blatant over explaining - but some of the more important details and plot lines were left unaddressed and foggy.
It also read as a weird mash up of YA and adult - like it had one foot in both worlds and couldn't choose which way to go, and just ended up feeling a little awkward.
Overall? I probably won't pick up the rest of this trilogy, but I'd love to read what she writes a couple of years from now as she grows as an author. The talent and imagination are 100% there!
I honestly wanted to love this book, and I think a lot of the concepts and creativity with the magic system/supernatural beings have so much potential. The first 60% of this book flew by, and then I started to get hung up.
The author has some beautiful descriptions and imagery, but also has some places where the writing is stilted and can jar you right out of the scene. The author would also be very repetitive about certain things - to the point of blatant over explaining - but some of the more important details and plot lines were left unaddressed and foggy.
It also read as a weird mash up of YA and adult - like it had one foot in both worlds and couldn't choose which way to go, and just ended up feeling a little awkward.
Overall? I probably won't pick up the rest of this trilogy, but I'd love to read what she writes a couple of years from now as she grows as an author. The talent and imagination are 100% there!
Murder on the Prince Regent
DNF around 54%. I think this is more of a me problem than a book problem - I think my time with this series is just done. While this is one of my go-to genres, and I've stayed the course with this series until now, I've just lost complete interest in the characters. These books, this one being no exception, can go for many pages without dialogue, and instead it's just a wall of narrative text that I've lost the will to read. While I can't say that other books don't have this quality, I can say that I've rarely noticed/been bothered by it outside of these books.
If you've been reading the series, this should be a very familiar read for you, and I hope that it brings you what you're looking for!
DNF around 54%. I think this is more of a me problem than a book problem - I think my time with this series is just done. While this is one of my go-to genres, and I've stayed the course with this series until now, I've just lost complete interest in the characters. These books, this one being no exception, can go for many pages without dialogue, and instead it's just a wall of narrative text that I've lost the will to read. While I can't say that other books don't have this quality, I can say that I've rarely noticed/been bothered by it outside of these books.
If you've been reading the series, this should be a very familiar read for you, and I hope that it brings you what you're looking for!
Hieroglyphs and Homicide
This was such a fun book! I loved Clarissa as a FMC, and seeing firsthand how she approaches the world, and how she categorizes life through the lens of the archeologist she is. I don't know a whole lot about this time period, especially in the setting of Egypt, but everything flowed really well, and the author did a great job creating compelling characters, mystery, intrigue, and romance.
It's been a long time since I've laughed out loud or quoted random sentences to my hubby because I just needed to share them. Looking forward to continuing this series!
This was such a fun book! I loved Clarissa as a FMC, and seeing firsthand how she approaches the world, and how she categorizes life through the lens of the archeologist she is. I don't know a whole lot about this time period, especially in the setting of Egypt, but everything flowed really well, and the author did a great job creating compelling characters, mystery, intrigue, and romance.
It's been a long time since I've laughed out loud or quoted random sentences to my hubby because I just needed to share them. Looking forward to continuing this series!
Updated a reading goal:
Read 150 books by December 31, 2025
Progress so far: 150 / 150 100%
Hieroglyphs and Homicide
This was such a fun book! I loved Clarissa as a FMC, and seeing firsthand how she approaches the world, and how she categorizes life through the lens of the archeologist she is. I don't know a whole lot about this time period, especially in the setting of Egypt, but everything flowed really well, and the author did a great job creating compelling characters, mystery, intrigue, and romance.
It's been a long time since I've laughed out loud or quoted random sentences to my hubby because I just needed to share them. Looking forward to continuing this series!
This was such a fun book! I loved Clarissa as a FMC, and seeing firsthand how she approaches the world, and how she categorizes life through the lens of the archeologist she is. I don't know a whole lot about this time period, especially in the setting of Egypt, but everything flowed really well, and the author did a great job creating compelling characters, mystery, intrigue, and romance.
It's been a long time since I've laughed out loud or quoted random sentences to my hubby because I just needed to share them. Looking forward to continuing this series!
