Jessica
This book had a strong premise and delivered a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, but unfortunately, that's where it peaked for me. While the creep factor was consistent and eerie, I struggled to connect with any of the characters. They felt flat, which made it hard to care about what was happening, even as things escalated.
The structure, including the between-chapter “evidence” snippets, felt more confusing than enriching. And while I can appreciate the intention behind an ambiguous ending, this one left me more frustrated than intrigued. I wanted more answers and a stronger emotional anchor.
Still, I think fans of atmospheric psychological horror who enjoy ambiguity and mood-driven storytelling may find more to love here than I did.
3.75⭐️
Had a good time with this one, and it's one of my favorite plots in the series so far. Some of the scenes had me cracking up, and the mystery was well thought out. The writing was, as always, and wonderful balance between humor, cleverness, romance, and mystery. The only thing bringing down my rating is the repetitive nature of the books. The format of each book is a good one, yes, but too much of a good thing rings true here. I will likely take a break before moving on the to next book.
I loved the atmosphere, but that's about it. I couldn't really get into the mystery, and was left wondering why I was supposed to care about any of the characters. There were some beautifully written scenes towards the end that pulled on the heart strings, but it was too little too late as far as becoming attached to the characters.
I found there to be a lot of moments where something began to get interesting but nothing stuck the landing. Lots of potential here that just didn't quite succeed at getting past the “good” stage to become “great”.
⭐️ 4.25 stars
An immensely powerful read in so many ways. The pacing got a little wonky in parts, and there were certain aspects of the witchcraft that I thought could have been written better. The subject, while dark and horrifying, drew me in completely, and the ending was so well done. This book will stick with me for a very long time.
⭐️ 4.25 Stars
Overall, this was a great time. The humor was just what I needed, and I loved the structure and concept of the book. I was able to follow the mystery for about 2/3 of the way through, but then it got way too complex for my little brain. But it was incredibly clever writing and plotting, and I'm definitely interested in reading more from this author.
I never wanted this book to end. Easily my favorite of the 3 so far. The pacing was perfect, the humor was spot on, and the plot was so much fun. Tairn and Andarna (and honestly all the curmudgeonly dragons) have my heart. Xaden was perfect. No notes. I finally felt connected and invested in Violet and her experiences.
Not sure how I'm gonna possibly be able to wait until the next book with THAT ENDING?!
I need time to process my thoughts about this one. On one hand, I could not put this down. Deliciously short chapters that end on these perfect little cliffhangers that kept me desperate to find out what happens next. So many things getting thrown at me, leaving me questioning WHAT IN THE F is going on here?!
But the way this one wraps up is FRUSTRATING and I don't think that even one of the questions I had going through this book were ever actually answered. Such an unsatisfying ending. There's at least a dozen things that I wish I had the answers to, and that's not an exaggeration!
But it was a wild ride and I know I'll be thinking about it for a long, long time. Idk. 5 stars for how I felt while reading it. 2 stars for how I feel now that I've finished it.
So. Much. Fun. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect with this book. Is it a romance, is it a mystery, is it purely satire? The answer to all those questions? YES. It's all of them. And it is a BLAST. Every single character is unique, and quite honestly precious to me. The humor is truly top notch. It's subtle, but it's constant, and it left a smile on my face constantly. Please pick this up, I promise it will make life a little better.
4.5 stars!
A slow start that ended up gaining incredible speed! Insanely well-plotted and clever, with two major twists that I didn't see coming.
This is very plot-heavy. There isn't much character development, especially considering there were so many different characters and POVs. Thankfully, what it lacks in character development, it more than makes up for in a massively entertaining, fast-paced plot. The chapters a fairly short, and there are small cliffhangers at the end of each one, which kept me eager to keep reading.
For what it's worth, it was obvious while reading that this book was written by a UK author. There were a few things that stuck out to me, but mainly grammar and a misunderstanding of New York/US culture. Most notably, there were quite a few references to “Thanksgiving Eve” as though it's a day almost as important as Thanksgiving Day. It's nitpicky, but it did distract me from the story.
Highly recommend picking this one up! A brilliant thriller. I'll be picking up more from this author!
Read if you like:
It's always hard to review a book that I didn't love when it is well-loved by so many. That's why it's important to be very clear—I can see why so many love it, but for my own reading tastes, this didn't work for me.
Right from the start, I couldn't find a way to get immersed into the story. The humor started off with promise, but eventually it seemed as though it was forced and trying too hard. I was also really put off by the main character's “inner voice” and her constantly picturing herself killing virtually every single person she encounters. I understand the mysterious, dark tone that the author was going for, but I don't think it was executed well.
I waited for something to grab me. A character, a plot point, a twist, or really anything, and unfortunately it never came. There were a couple standout moments, so I do see potential with this author. This one just didn't work for me.
I do plan on trying this again on audio once it's released. The podcast element of the story seems like it would do really well on audio with the right narrators.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinion are my own.
This was fun and lighthearted, but it was lacking something that made the first book so good. The plot was kinda all over the place, the characters felt a little flat, and there were so many of them that it was hard for me to keep track of them. Vero was just as badass, hilarious, and unyieldingly loyal as always, though. It was still a good time, and I enjoyed it enough to keep going in the series
My feelings about this one are all over the place. There were a few thrilling moments that kept me on the edge of my seat, and I did feel invested in the storyline at times, but there's a lot that I didn't love.
The chemistry was unconvincing and stale. The romance depended on sexual attraction and literally nothing else. We don't get to know much about any of the characters individually and it seems as though they all exist solely to be aggressive, intimidating gang members that happen to all be, conveniently, sexually attracted to the main character. Now, I understand that this is common in books like this, (we all know the main reason we're reading them) but that doesn't change the fact that this book would have been so much more enjoyable with just a little bit more character development. The plot is intriguing, and there's a foundation for something great here.
I struggled with the main character. She comes off as immature and impulsive, which made it difficult for me to connect to her. She put herself in danger so many times while actively thinking to herself “this isn't a good idea” but then did it anyways. It left me frustrated and disconnected from her as a character too many times.
The plot feels like it's something we all fantasized about at the age of 15. Hot, rich girl lives in a mansion with no adults and 3 hot, ripped bad boys that all have a massive crush on her. Her closet is magically filled with cute outfits, there's a cook, a butler, maids, etc. The quarterback wants to date you, and his dad, a professor, even calls you the “prettiest girl in the class” in front of everyone. On and on it goes. Everything just felt so convenient and unrealistic.
However, the underlying mystery has me hooked, and I can't deny there's something slightly addicting to the story. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I know I'll be picking up the next one to find out what happens to these characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 stars rounded up!
Honestly, this was good. As we all know, though, novellas are tricky. It's hard to really get invested into a story and the characters when you only get them for less than 200 pages. If this were longer, I think I could have fallen in love with Lilith and Vale.
I've yet to read The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King, and it has been forever since I read The Serpent and the Wings of Night, so I have no idea how much this story will tie in with the two main books, but I'm looking forward to discovering that.
This was my first experience with Sally Hepworth, and it likely will not be my last! I was hooked from the first chapter. I found myself quickly attached to many of the characters, and the story was fast-paced and easy to follow along with. All signs pointed to an excellent thriller. And in many ways, it was. Unfortunately, there were a couple of things that took away from it, but it was really enjoyable overall.
I loved the characters. That's not necessarily to say that they were “lovable” as most were pretty flawed, but they were exceptionally well developed and interesting, and their interactions and relationships with each other felt real and intriguing. It's hard for me to enjoy a thriller when I don't care about the fates of the characters, and that definitely was not a problem with this book.
I struggled a little with the subject matter, particularly the traumatized foster children and the abuse that they suffered. I know this is a realistic part of the foster care system, and it's heartbreaking. I'm not faulting the book for it, I actually think it's an important topic to bring awareness to, but I think it's worth a warning. It was pretty difficult to get through at times.
The ending was where everything went wrong for me. The final chapter of the book seemed like it was added simply for the sake of a shocking plot twist, and I didn't think it was done well at all. It felt like a quick, cheap addition. The concept was fine, but I really think it could have been integrated into the story in a way that benefited and lifted up the plot, but it instead fell very, very flat. Without that ending, I likely would have rated this even higher.
Regardless, I really enjoyed my time with this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for an advanced reader copy. All thoughts opinions are my own.
Absolutely unhinged, but in the very best way. Everything about this was pure perfection. It had me laughing until I was crying, swooning over Irish accents and beautifully dark romance, and even gagging through some of the most disgusting scenes I've experienced in my reading journey so far... and every single second of it was enjoyable. Truly did not want this to end! I'll be continuing the series, for sure.
This was my first experience with a true “retelling” of a fairytale/Disney movie, and I ended up really enjoying it. It felt a bit cringey at first, but eventually I was able to just go with the flow and learned to appreciate it for what it is: a light, fun, feel-good fairytale retelling.
It's your classic Grumpy x Sunshine trope, which I love, so you'll hear no complaints from me. The female main character, Ren, was so loveable, sweet, and fun, and I loved her approach to life. The male main character, Fitz, took a while to grow on me but he did indeed grow on me. Their relationship was sweet, but I felt it needed more “oomph”. There was just something about it that was missing for me.
I loved the ways that the Tangled storyline was reimagined, and I loved all the little Easter eggs throughout. It definitely added something to the experience for me with how much I love the movie. I don't know if the story holds as much value without having seen the movie, however.
The ending kind of came up and slapped me in the face, if I'm honest. It felt as though things were naturally concluding in many ways, and I was looking forward to a couple more loose ends being tied, but then it ended and I was admittedly a little shocked. I wish there was even just 10 or 20 more pages to conclude the other little details in a more satisfying way.
Ultimately, this was highly enjoyable for me as a Tangled fan, and I think it's worth a read for anyone that also loves the movie and Christina Lauren's writing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Hyperion Avenue, for the advanced reader copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book much more than most who have read this series seemed to. Neither Chaol and Nesryn were characters that I cared much for going into the tandem read, but I came out of it having my opinion changed greatly. Chaol specifically, but Nesryn eventually grew on me, as well.
The reoccurrence of characters from The Assassin's Blade was beautifully done, and the way that they tie in to the story was immensely satisfying. The same could be said for both Tower of Dawn and Empire of Storms.
While the story was a bit heavy in war politics for my tastes, I don't fault the book for that. It's the nature of the story. But I definitely missed the action and pacing of the other books in the series. This one feels much different!
I don't know if I would have enjoyed this less if I had read it by itself as opposed to the tandem read with Empire of Storms, but I really did enjoy it.
I have no idea how my rating may have been different if I hadn't read the tandem read. I couldn't gain any momentum in the story. I would start to get invested, then have to switch over to the other book, then by the time I came back to this one I would have to start all over again. Yes, there is a massive cliffhanger at the end, and going into Tower of Dawn would have been a little hard when I just wanted to know what happens in Kingdom of Ash, but I actually really enjoyed Tower of Dawn. I feel like I would have been able to be immersed in the story, which would have made the waiting easier. All this is to say, I personally don't find the tandem read was worth it for me. I think I would have chosen to just read them separately if I could make the choice all over again.
There were a few return characters that I just could not find it in myself to care about (Dorian, Aedion...) and also a few that I loved even more (Manon, Lysandra, Elide...)
Even Aelin, who I absolutely ADORE, while amazing always, didn't quite live up to her own amazingness in previous books. But again, that may be due to the tandem read pulling me away from this book so much and losing that immersion and momentum.
♡ Molly is so precious and pure. I adore everything about her.
♡ I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED the relationships that were developed between Molly and the friends that came to her aid.
♡ The plot was pretty dang boring for me. I just couldn't find it in myself to care about the mystery.
♡ At first I was pretty annoyed that no one seemed to realize Molly was neurodivergent instead of just “odd”. It did seem to get better towards the end, but the overall opinion of Molly seemed to be negative, and I didn't think that was necessarily realistic. It felt like it was only a thing for the sake of the plot, which I don't always appreciate.
♡ Internal monologues galore. There was a specific instance where Luka asked Stella a question and there was almost 2 pages of internal monologue before she answered. I had to turn back to remember what the question even was.
♡ Perfect Christmas read! The farm is the perfect, cozy Christmas setting. I wish I had a place like it to visit close to me!
♡ The parts where there was actual back and forth banter were so fun and cute. I wanted more of it!
♡ Friends to lovers remains one of my least favorite tropes, if the book doesn't include how their friendship developed, and especially if a large part of the book is just one or both of them playing dumb and refusing to see the signs.
4.5 stars
♡ I ate this UP (pun intended). The writing is incredible, the characters are so well developed, the plot is adorable and sweet, and the romance is chef's kiss.
♡ Magical Realism is quickly becoming my favorite genre, and this one absolutely knocked it out of the park. The time-traveling aspect was unique and so well done.
♡ As a self-proclaimed foodie, I had a really good time with the descriptions of food and the restaurant business. Also, really regretting not marrying a chef!
♡ The ending felt a little flat for me, and I wished so much that we were given just a little bit more. Not necessarily a longer epilogue, but a little bit more time with the characters. It felt a little rushed.
3.5 stars rounded up
From the moment I read the synopsis of this one, I was completely hooked. The concept of humanity relying on solving a murder when everyone, including the murderer, has had their memories wiped is a wild one! I was nervous that the book itself wouldn't live up to my expectations, but it did. The characters are interesting, the plot is impressive, and the writing is sensational.
With many deliciously short chapters, and most ending in cliffhangers of varying degrees, it was difficult to put this one down! There were some wonderfully fast-paced, entertaining moments that had me flying through the pages. Added to that, the sometimes science-heavy plot is still approachable and easy to understand.
I felt that the pacing was a little off at times. There were random, long moments detailing characters' pasts that would interrupt current events, some of which were quite frustrating. I found that to be rather disrupting to the pace of the story, but that's a minor complaint and the only thing that I didn't enjoy.
Thank you to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.