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charliauthor's Reviews (531)
DNF @ 22%
There was just nothing going on other than the MC constant clenching of thighs and wanting to bang everything that moved. There's no plot, there's no substance and while a few of the sex scenes were pretty decent and get points for originality, there isnt anything else going for it.
There was just nothing going on other than the MC constant clenching of thighs and wanting to bang everything that moved. There's no plot, there's no substance and while a few of the sex scenes were pretty decent and get points for originality, there isnt anything else going for it.
Still an absolutely insanely trash book but i'm a trash lover so here we are!
Orion contines to be bae, Darius and Tory continue to deny their feelings but at least in this one, Diego gets a little personality outside of moaning about his Abuela lol
A lot of nothing takes place but the guys are hot, the girls have their flaws and Geraldine Grus is amazing as always. On to book 4 i go because the girls now have their Order form and I need to know how that pans out, especially for all the badness that Daddy Acrux has been up to!
Orion contines to be bae, Darius and Tory continue to deny their feelings but at least in this one, Diego gets a little personality outside of moaning about his Abuela lol
A lot of nothing takes place but the guys are hot, the girls have their flaws and Geraldine Grus is amazing as always. On to book 4 i go because the girls now have their Order form and I need to know how that pans out, especially for all the badness that Daddy Acrux has been up to!
Toxic Trash
Lol this was just as ridiculous as the first one and i loved it!
Finally get le seggz in this one and while it was rather quick it did its job lol i like that the twins are defo fighting back more now but they definitely need to get a handle on their powers quicker than this.
The story is fun of course but the writing is sooo longwinded. The authors use 20 words where they could use 5 and its very very annoying!
Other than that, these are just a bit of fun with some hot guys. Although there is clear favouritism in that Max is rarely seen or interacted with even though he’s an Heir like the other 3 which i dont like cause it feels hes been regulated to “the black one” with no real interest in his life or the girls being interested in him as hey are with the other 3.
Lol this was just as ridiculous as the first one and i loved it!
Finally get le seggz in this one and while it was rather quick it did its job lol i like that the twins are defo fighting back more now but they definitely need to get a handle on their powers quicker than this.
The story is fun of course but the writing is sooo longwinded. The authors use 20 words where they could use 5 and its very very annoying!
Other than that, these are just a bit of fun with some hot guys. Although there is clear favouritism in that Max is rarely seen or interacted with even though he’s an Heir like the other 3 which i dont like cause it feels hes been regulated to “the black one” with no real interest in his life or the girls being interested in him as hey are with the other 3.
Toxic Teen Antics
There is so much to unpack with this book. Whether it’s the misogynistic, cruel, disrespectful and outright rude male main characters or the overall toxicity of the Academy, teachers and student, Zodiac Academy is 100% a guilty pleasure that you can’t stop reading even though everything about it tells you to.
I was a little annoyed with the twins not having as much agency against the brutality of the other students and just taking it which seemed against the character especially Tory, but I’m hoping that this changes in subsequent books.
Professor Orion is my new book bae alongside Darius even though there is a lot to be desired in all of their personalities.
would recommend it for something bingeable but it definitely has its issues as fun as they are
There is so much to unpack with this book. Whether it’s the misogynistic, cruel, disrespectful and outright rude male main characters or the overall toxicity of the Academy, teachers and student, Zodiac Academy is 100% a guilty pleasure that you can’t stop reading even though everything about it tells you to.
I was a little annoyed with the twins not having as much agency against the brutality of the other students and just taking it which seemed against the character especially Tory, but I’m hoping that this changes in subsequent books.
Professor Orion is my new book bae alongside Darius even though there is a lot to be desired in all of their personalities.
would recommend it for something bingeable but it definitely has its issues as fun as they are
(2.5) I'm not entirely sure how to feel about this book or how to write this review because its just so...meh.
On the one hand, I quite liked the main character Cas and all his flaws having survived imprisonment and torture after catching some sort of plague. I was invested enough in his personality and how he interacted with the world around him but everything else was just sort of...vague.
Its called Year of the Reaper but theres hardly any reaping going on and the fact that Cas can see dead people isnt very well fleshed out and seeing them doesnt actually help him in any way or progress the story. The whole thing felt rather unfinished and didnt live up to any of the potential of the content that she touches on.
People are dying of plague - What plague? Why?
Two countries are at war so their rulers have to unite in marriage - Why are they fighting?
More time was spent describing clothes shopping and the food they like to eat then actually fleshing out the world or the actual plot. Cas is tortured for three years and we never really explore what that has done to him mentally or learn how he was able to survive.
The first half of the book is a bit of a slog because nothing really happens and the things that do happen, you struggle to understand why. There just didnt seem to be any real point to the book and even having finished it, my first thought is...what was the point of that?? There was no need for this to be written as its just so mediocre and unfulfilling.
The writing itself has its own issues with odd, seemingly unfinished sentences and weird formatting. There were countless times I had to re read because I didnt realise something had happened so it didnt make sense. The writing wasnt impactful in any way which was odd.
In short, this book was a massive disappointment and was only somewhat saved by the tiny bit of romance and the likability of the MC, despite having no real connection to him.
On the one hand, I quite liked the main character Cas and all his flaws having survived imprisonment and torture after catching some sort of plague. I was invested enough in his personality and how he interacted with the world around him but everything else was just sort of...vague.
Its called Year of the Reaper but theres hardly any reaping going on and the fact that Cas can see dead people isnt very well fleshed out and seeing them doesnt actually help him in any way or progress the story. The whole thing felt rather unfinished and didnt live up to any of the potential of the content that she touches on.
People are dying of plague - What plague? Why?
Two countries are at war so their rulers have to unite in marriage - Why are they fighting?
More time was spent describing clothes shopping and the food they like to eat then actually fleshing out the world or the actual plot. Cas is tortured for three years and we never really explore what that has done to him mentally or learn how he was able to survive.
The first half of the book is a bit of a slog because nothing really happens and the things that do happen, you struggle to understand why. There just didnt seem to be any real point to the book and even having finished it, my first thought is...what was the point of that?? There was no need for this to be written as its just so mediocre and unfulfilling.
The writing itself has its own issues with odd, seemingly unfinished sentences and weird formatting. There were countless times I had to re read because I didnt realise something had happened so it didnt make sense. The writing wasnt impactful in any way which was odd.
In short, this book was a massive disappointment and was only somewhat saved by the tiny bit of romance and the likability of the MC, despite having no real connection to him.
Funny
A fun take on the grump/sunshine trope that i really enjoyed and read in a few hours.
The plot/killing is simple enough and sexy scenes with just enough spice that i was invested throughout while really liking the MMC.
With a few laugh out loud moments and just the right amount of sweetness with a great meet cute, i recommend this for a fun and easy enjoyable read that will make you smile!
A fun take on the grump/sunshine trope that i really enjoyed and read in a few hours.
The plot/killing is simple enough and sexy scenes with just enough spice that i was invested throughout while really liking the MMC.
With a few laugh out loud moments and just the right amount of sweetness with a great meet cute, i recommend this for a fun and easy enjoyable read that will make you smile!
This book is amazing.
From the very first page, Blood Scion drew me in in a way I didnt expect. While admittedly I was apprehensive about reading another Black Fantasy based in West African Orisha magic (thinking the theme had been oversaturated) this marriage of magic and the modern horrors of child soldiers was done beautifully.
Sloane is a Scion. A person blessed with powers from Gods but that also make her life a curse because of the oppressors who wish to destroy her for her power. She is drafted into an army as a child soldier on her 15th birthday as so many others are and is forced to kill her own kind for fear of being tortured and killed or worse, it being found out that shes a scion.
Sloane struggles to keep her humanity in a place determined to rip it from her and the very real comparisons to her life as “scion scum” and those of historical and contemporary racial injustice and oppressions had me in fits of tears as well as anger. The raw emotion i got from this was beautiful to feel and its links to ongoing social contemporary was amazing.
From the current war on women, to the racial privileges that many hold and are denied, to the social and economic conditions that separate us, Blood Scion opens the reader to a system that youve either experienced as the oppressed or viewed as the oppressor whether consciously or not.
Other than it feeling a little rushed at the end considering the previously rich narrative and some questionable love interest choices, Blood Scion is a beautiful book with beautifully written commentary on the barbaric institution that is government, politics and racism.
This book is powerful. As powerful as i can ever hope to be as a writer and a woman.
From the very first page, Blood Scion drew me in in a way I didnt expect. While admittedly I was apprehensive about reading another Black Fantasy based in West African Orisha magic (thinking the theme had been oversaturated) this marriage of magic and the modern horrors of child soldiers was done beautifully.
Sloane is a Scion. A person blessed with powers from Gods but that also make her life a curse because of the oppressors who wish to destroy her for her power. She is drafted into an army as a child soldier on her 15th birthday as so many others are and is forced to kill her own kind for fear of being tortured and killed or worse, it being found out that shes a scion.
Sloane struggles to keep her humanity in a place determined to rip it from her and the very real comparisons to her life as “scion scum” and those of historical and contemporary racial injustice and oppressions had me in fits of tears as well as anger. The raw emotion i got from this was beautiful to feel and its links to ongoing social contemporary was amazing.
From the current war on women, to the racial privileges that many hold and are denied, to the social and economic conditions that separate us, Blood Scion opens the reader to a system that youve either experienced as the oppressed or viewed as the oppressor whether consciously or not.
Other than it feeling a little rushed at the end considering the previously rich narrative and some questionable love interest choices, Blood Scion is a beautiful book with beautifully written commentary on the barbaric institution that is government, politics and racism.
This book is powerful. As powerful as i can ever hope to be as a writer and a woman.
Where to begin with how incredibly insane this book is!
I read this during a readalong and it was literally the only reason that i persevered and got through such a horrendous mash up of words ive recently come across.
WAWT had so much potential with its subject matter but it basically just ended up being a forced mash up of Practical Magic and Great Gatsby mixed with the randomness of the film Shutter Island.
There were so many elements that could have been utilised better to create a dark and mysterious story that would leap off the page and this just wasnt it. The only reason it doesnt get one star is because i had plenty of feelings about this book. Its just that none of them were particularly good!
The main characters in Annie, Emmeline and Bea were all unlikeable and I wasnt rooting for any of them throughout the book. Each POV chapter, while had a distinct voice just sort of melted into one by the end. An end that JUST WOULDNT COME, even when it was so obvious would could/should have been done to get them out of their self imposed mess.
The setting was confusing and the entire story felt White Roomed in that there was nothing and noone around other than the main characters, with a few side ones thrown in just to give them someone else to talk to. Nathan and Isobel were decent enough additions to the story but even they werent given enough to be fully interesting unless it was in the few flashback scenes/chapters.
For a book based on magic/witches, the magic system wasnt explained. Sure we understood that it was nature based and rooted in their emotions, desires and their blood, there was no thorough enough explanation as to why they could do these things, why they would want to and why Emmeline knew practically nothing about powers she'd had her whole life.
The book in short was weak, slow placed and by the end, completely uninteresting. There was a peak in the second half when it started to get interesting but the endless monologuing grew tiresome and the ending didnt provide any form of satisfaction or care for the characters. It was just all too easy without having really been thought through.
In short, it was just a massive let down.
I read this during a readalong and it was literally the only reason that i persevered and got through such a horrendous mash up of words ive recently come across.
WAWT had so much potential with its subject matter but it basically just ended up being a forced mash up of Practical Magic and Great Gatsby mixed with the randomness of the film Shutter Island.
There were so many elements that could have been utilised better to create a dark and mysterious story that would leap off the page and this just wasnt it. The only reason it doesnt get one star is because i had plenty of feelings about this book. Its just that none of them were particularly good!
The main characters in Annie, Emmeline and Bea were all unlikeable and I wasnt rooting for any of them throughout the book. Each POV chapter, while had a distinct voice just sort of melted into one by the end. An end that JUST WOULDNT COME, even when it was so obvious would could/should have been done to get them out of their self imposed mess.
The setting was confusing and the entire story felt White Roomed in that there was nothing and noone around other than the main characters, with a few side ones thrown in just to give them someone else to talk to. Nathan and Isobel were decent enough additions to the story but even they werent given enough to be fully interesting unless it was in the few flashback scenes/chapters.
For a book based on magic/witches, the magic system wasnt explained. Sure we understood that it was nature based and rooted in their emotions, desires and their blood, there was no thorough enough explanation as to why they could do these things, why they would want to and why Emmeline knew practically nothing about powers she'd had her whole life.
The book in short was weak, slow placed and by the end, completely uninteresting. There was a peak in the second half when it started to get interesting but the endless monologuing grew tiresome and the ending didnt provide any form of satisfaction or care for the characters. It was just all too easy without having really been thought through.
In short, it was just a massive let down.
This was a recommended read but i really didnt get into it as much as i wanted to and DNF at 21%.
What worked was the thought and research that went into the lore of vampire mating. I found it very clever and appreciated the time taken to craft it.
What i didnt like was pretty much everything else. There was minimal plot, the dialogue felt stiff and i didnt feel a particularly strong connection to either character in order to root for their romance.
I cant say much else cause i didnt finish but it was too slow for me to be invested.
What worked was the thought and research that went into the lore of vampire mating. I found it very clever and appreciated the time taken to craft it.
What i didnt like was pretty much everything else. There was minimal plot, the dialogue felt stiff and i didnt feel a particularly strong connection to either character in order to root for their romance.
I cant say much else cause i didnt finish but it was too slow for me to be invested.