30something_reads's Reviews (820)

 While I really enjoyed how personal Alyan got within this collection, having read this after her most recent collection, it did not hold up as well in its entirety. The Moon That Turns You Back is a much stronger collection in my option. 

More like a "DNF for now" I just wasn't drawn into the story in the first few chapters and I've been struggling too hard with this slump to try and push through. 

My biggest issue was the feeling of repetitiveness. For such a short book, I feel like a lot of their interactions were the same which made it drag. I ended up skimming quite a bit at the end.

 I'm sure there's a really bad dad joke somewhere about how horny these musicians are (AND THEY ARE!!!) but I digress...

As someone who has never been involved with the Reylo fandom and whose only knowledge of the characters comes from watching the movie that one time when it released, I feel like this is the most reylo-y trad published Reylo that I've read so far.

But like... it totally worked for me. These characters made sense. Their backstories and motivations made sense. Even in my limited interaction with the movies, I could tell where the author pulled inspiration and I thought it was really well done. It was fully developed and we didn't just slap an Adam Driver-coded MC in it and call it Reylo. (Although, yes. The cover art definitely is Adam Driver flavored - but that hand placement makes up for it.)

I had a lot of fun with this one. I enjoyed how it was primarily in single POV (with a little interlude every now and then from the LI.) The side characters brought delightful comic relief. The antagonists were really good (I hated them.) And yes, Gwen and Xander were super horny for each other. Sometimes in inappropriate places. I loved that for them.


*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC* 

 Oh, hello I love the additions that the author made to this novella! (I originally read it when it was included in an anthology.)

I really enjoyed getting more back story for Maladek and Katie. Katie is such an exciting addition to this universe because she is proof that humans are out and about in the greater universe as well (which gives a lot of room to experiment with later on if the author choose to.)

And Maladek is such a swoony character- I mean look at this:

"My mate who is loved throughout the universe- you have more family than you know. And to me, you are everything. You're my whole universe, Katie."

I hope we get to see them again later on in the series.

Series Ranking
Book 1: Choosing Theo -(Jade/Theo) 4.75⭐
Book 2: Freeing Luka -(Alice/Luka) 3.25⭐
Book 3: Saving Verakko -(Lily/Verakko) 4⭐
Book 4: Tempting Auzed -(Alejandra/Auzed) 4.5⭐
Book 5: Using Fejo -(Vanessa/Fejo) 4.75⭐
Book 5.5: Releasing Maladek -(Katie/Maladek) - 4⭐
Book 6: Resisting Maxu -(Meg/Maxu) 4.25 ⭐
Book 7: Ruling Sikthand -(Sophia/Sikthand) 5⭐ 

 I am at an utter loss for words. This was incredible. It was deeply unsettling. I couldn't sleep last night.

I'm so torn between wanting to pick up the next book immediately but also needing 2-3 business days to process everything that happened. 

This was super sweet. 

I did enjoy the dynamics between Mallory and Nolan but I honestly appreciated the way this book explored the relationship between Mal and her family more. That was more impactful than the romance for me.

I also found myself head over heels for one of the side characters, Oz. He was funny and just had such grown up sensibilities that provided the tough love that Mal really needed.

"You were glorious, Mairwen," he murmured.
I tipped my head back and found those dark eyes glowing warmly down at me. "I was, wasn't I?"

When I say "good for her," THIS is what I mean. Mairwen deserved all of the good things that happened for her- especially that man's devotion because DAMN, Ronson. Yes.

This is a really fun new series and I cannot wait to see what Kathryn comes up with for Torian and Seamus. 

Rtc