buffyreads's Reviews (575)

We should be more different than two people can be, and yet I feel so complete when I’m with you. Like I belong.

The Good
Let's get this sapphic fantasy show on the road! I really felt for Lucia. (I do have complaints though.) She is anxious, abused, bullied and treated horribly by everyone but her sister who even at times does not actually see/understand her either. The romance between Adelaide and Lucia was well done. I love how intense Adelaide is and how strongly she felt for Lucia. She wanted to love her and understand her in a way no one else did. Their relationship was my favorite part of the book and were when Lucia was the most likable. I found the world-building to be interesting especially the dynamics and history between the clans. The bits of language sprinkled throughout were cool.

The Bad
While I was interested in the main parts of the world-building, I felt there was a lot of seemingly unnecessary details added especially at the beginning that overwhelmed me. The reader is bombarded with locations, lore, and small tidbits that it can't all be stored. When given too many details at once I stopped storing somethings for later because I couldn't identify what's important and what's just fluff. Lucia as a lead character frustrated me. While I understood she was abused, manipulated, and isolated – her lack of a mind of her own frustrated me. I never felt like she truly had thoughts of her own, they were constantly influenced by outside forces. And her own thoughts and decisions were often stupid or naive. She never does anything herself, only when someone tells her to or tells her not to. I craved real character development and felt frustrated as it only came at the very end. I also don't understand Cassius. He tried to kill Lucia during the trials and then both Lucia and Adelaide are fine with him at the party. He then tried to kill Lucia again, Adelaide says they'll deal with him but nothing apparently happens and Lucia is will to hang around him again. This is not how any normal person would react and makes no sense. I think I just didn't like Lucia or rather having to be in her head.

Format:
Ebook — Kindle Unlimited

The Rating
I give this book a 3/5

Highlights:
I love angsty love stories so I was really excited for this one! Mari and T'chai's story was parallel to Lauren's so we got a flashback of them falling in love. I was really grateful we got to see them together. This is a really new scenario than ever before which was super exciting to see. It reminded me of "Barbarians Heart" which was my favorite of the Ice Planet series. I knew about the "big reveal" that was introduced later in the book since I read the 'Fire in his Blood' series.

Lowlights:
This book was a bit slow paced and a bit boring. I thought the angst would be more intriguing but it was only okay. The whole last third felt dragged out and boring. A lot of tribe drama rehashed again and very slow paced.

Horn Level: 4/5

For the longest time I believed we only got one incredible, life-changing thing in our lives. Hockey was mine. But then, I got lucky. I met her.

The Good
This is my first book back into trying a sports romance and since I saw so many fellow black booktokers sharing this book I had to check it out! Naomi was my beloved! I liked her humor and her positive personality that hid away a much sadder side. Her backstory with her mom was really sad and added a lot of depth to her character. I really liked Finn! He has amnesia and is trying to figure out who he was and who he is now which was interesting to read about. I also liked that while he was "grumpy" it was not in the usual asshole way, he simply just was quiet or awkward and came off rough. I loved his character development throughout the story in accepting himself. I love hidden identity plots so I looked forward to how this was going to play out. I was so relieved that it was handled in a very real and sweet way. Naomi and Finn were so cute together. They really wanted to understand each and supported each other. I loved them together so much!

The Bad
I really wish Finn's family plot line was fleshed out more. The wasn't a real resolution there and it felt brushed over. I think this book would have benefited from 50 more pages to deepen that part of the story.

Format:
Ebook — Kindle Unlimited

The Rating
I give this book a 4/5

Highlights:
Devi and N'Dek ARE AMAZING! I think Devi is my second favorite of the ice home women so far. Her intelligence and obsession with nature was so awesome to see. N'Dek's journey was also wonderful as he learns to get back into the world and accept his new difficulties.

Lowlights:
I found the subplot with Hannah kind of silly. I thought it would be obvious to Devi that Hannah was not genuinely interested in N'Dek but it was so dragged out.

Horn Level: 3/5

Highlights:
I love Kate and Harrec! I love their arguing and banter. I loved how much they supported and came to understand each other. By the end they both wanted no body but each other resonance be damned.

Lowlights:
Misunderstanding being the crux of their problems is a little annoying but it got better quickly.

Horn Level: 4/5

Highlights:
Taushen and Brooke were okay. I liked Brooke's personality and Taushen was sweet when he wasn't being the most uncommon active asshole. I care the most about the set up for Ice Home! I'm really excited for a new series with new dynamics and different alien people!

Lowlights:
Usually the misunderstandings are based in cultural differences but I think Taushen is just dumb. Brooke explains that she was "roofied" and even though he doesn't understand what a "roofie" is, she also says she has to bang him because of the aliens and he still misunderstands this. And then we do the kidnapping bit AGAIN which is tired at this point. Also Bek is so annoying. He doesn't want the pod people woken up but this was entirely his fault in the first place that they came there. If he didn't have a mate already he would've wanted them opened immediately. His hypocrisy is so annoying.

Horn Level: 5/5

Highlights
This book opened the world up more as we get to see the ripple effects of the events of the last book. Taegan and Zorvut continue to be a wonderful couple. I love how rooted in reality their relationship problems were. I understand Zorvut wanting to explore his magic and his relationship with his father but also I understand Taegan's homesickness and complete boredom and loneliness.

Lowlights:
The middle of this story dragged a bit for me even if I understood why it was important for the overarching narrative being told. It did pick up plot-wise at the end though.

Horn Level: 3/5

I know our flirtation is forbidden, but I can't let it go. It's the only thing I have that's truly mine, and I don't want to give it up.

Highlights:
I love the concept here! Having Sentorr and Zoey fall for each other without seeing each other was a new idea that I liked. I also liked her brothers and am excited to read their books next!

Lowlights:
The conflict felt very silly especially since Sentorr just refused to compromise or even make plans for the future. I thought of a dozen scenarios that could have worked for BOTH of them but in the end Zoey need to be off the ship for the future books so...

Horn Level: 3/5

Highlights:
I liked the world building in this one. Chloe and Jutari were cute towards the end.

Lowlights:
This story was darker than the others in the rubyverse so it was less fun to read.

Horn Level: 3/5

Highlights:
I loved the previous book and I love arranged marriage stories so I was really into this book from the jump. Mikhail and Bianca were a cute couple. There was just enough plot to balance out all the domestic fluff.

Lowlights:
I don't think the "I'd kill her if she had an abortion" part was necessary. Like the author could have just had him pay her to have it and removed that part. Gave me a bit of an ick.

Horn Level: 4/5

Format:
Ebook — Kindle Unlimited

The Rating
I give this book a 4/5