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On reread, I am realizing how much of a jerk the MMC is in this book. I can't say that I was rooting for Ashaya and Dorian to end up together -- but I did love Ashaya. She is undeniably the best part of this book -- well, her and her son. But the romance? Not my favorite.
Creepy and weird, absolutely enmeshed in it's lore but nimble storytelling keeps it brief. Great novella
Roanhorse is undeniably a talented writer, but this was a slog to get through. Coupled with the fact that I switched to audio halfway through I did not have a good time reading this. The audiobook narrator for Iktan drawled all of xir lines. It felt as though all of xir lines were said on a sigh. It was just not enjoyable. Xiala's arc felt nonexistant -- she was so passive in this book. I think the same can kind of be said for Okoa. They both are just along for the ride.
I did enjoy Naranpa's storyline. Which is not surprising considering she was one of my favorite characters from the first book (I know, unpopular opinion).
I understand Roanhorse is trying to set up political alliances and all that stuff for book 3, but it felt unsatisfying and meandering at times. We spent all of last book building up to something and then to have the pacing go back to 5 miles an hour felt familiar in a not-good way. Also, I've noticed that with an ensembles cast, Roanhorse has a tendency to immediately cool down and focus on something else after a really tense scene. It can be jarring at times. In other books I've read where that has happened, I felt like the author was trying to create suspense but I really just felt annoyed. I tend not to enjoy those moments because it feels like a huge change in pace and I think that's why I usually don't read books with ensembles casts.
Oh well, it was fine.
I did enjoy Naranpa's storyline. Which is not surprising considering she was one of my favorite characters from the first book (I know, unpopular opinion).
I understand Roanhorse is trying to set up political alliances and all that stuff for book 3, but it felt unsatisfying and meandering at times. We spent all of last book building up to something and then to have the pacing go back to 5 miles an hour felt familiar in a not-good way. Also, I've noticed that with an ensembles cast, Roanhorse has a tendency to immediately cool down and focus on something else after a really tense scene. It can be jarring at times. In other books I've read where that has happened, I felt like the author was trying to create suspense but I really just felt annoyed. I tend not to enjoy those moments because it feels like a huge change in pace and I think that's why I usually don't read books with ensembles casts.
Oh well, it was fine.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
Gripping story of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to bring enslaved Africans to the US. It seeks to reckon with the actions and the aftermath of that kidnapping, all while painting a picture of the lives the enslaved African's would have had. I am impressed with Raines scope -- to bring context and nuance to the lives of the enslaved both in the past and to the present. Truly touching read.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Intimate and bursting with the energy of first love, First Kill delivers a heartfelt story of paranormal enemies to lovers. I loved every minute of this novella -- I only wish it was longer.
A super sloggish middle and I just didn’t feel the heat and chemistry between the leads. Alyssa Cole books are usually so steamy, I don’t know what happened here. This felt practically chaste. And coupled with the fact that NOTHING HAPPENS, I just had to quit.
It looks like I might find a dark academia book I love! I was provided a sneak peak, and boy has it made me that much more interested. Our two protagonists are completely unlike each other but their personalities really shine even in the first three chapters. Abike-Iyimide drops us into an atmosphere so hostile beneath its veneer of respectability. From what I can tell, a heavy theme of this novel is about the particular struggles BIPOC deal with when occupying these predominately white--and wealthy--spaces. I'm so excited to read the rest of the story once it comes out. All I have to say is Devon has my heart and Chiamaka is the HBIC I wish I was in High School. Well, maybe I don't want to be exactly like her...
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a sneak peak in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a sneak peak in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I finished this literally a month ago lol but I've been putting it off for some reason. I want to be clear, I did try to go into this as unbiased as possible. I really wanted to like this book. 1, because I actually don’t enjoy hate reading all that much. 2, I didn’t want any analysis I did after the fact to seem as if it’s done in bad faith — that’s not fair to people who read my reviews. It’s also not fair to me, and my integrity as a reader. Reading is my hobby; there should never be a reason to play smoke and mirrors with my thoughts. Maybe one day I will do an actual review, but for now I will just say that this book did not work for me. Enjoy this list:
- The world info-dumping
- There is one character that literally only exists to tell Feyre things about the Faerie world
- The writing
- Extremely overwritten in some areas. Fell into cliches a lot.
- Characters
- Feyre: starts out strong, but becomes so passive in the story that it was a bit like reading from the perspective of a wet blanket. She had no other personality trait besides loving painting. the amount of paint analogies in this book, were superfluous. She literally can only relate to things in terms of painting. The third act helps develop her character a little more (not really), but she becomes more active in the story and also in agency?
- Tamlin: I literally do not know this man. He could be walking down the street and I wouldn't know who he was. Sorry to this man. No, but seriously, he was always going out fighting some monsters on his land. Genuinely surprised Feyre could “fall in love with him” he was BARELY with her.
- Rhysand: I thought he would become a character I really like but he’s honestly just really sketchy and did some very dubious consent type things in this novel. I also feel like we weren’t able to see much depth to his character. He’s also much more important in the third act than in any other act.
- Lucien: I mean, he seems okay. I do not know this man.
- Nesta: she has a relatively minor role in this novel but I have to say out of all the characters I do find her the most interesting. I am refraining from saying I like her, because tbh we didn’t spend enough time with her for me to like her but I do find her character arc more interesting than Feyre’s…which is kinda sad. There was legit a part where I thought, “I would much rather be reading this from Nesta’s perspective than Feyre’s” and it’s literally not because I like her better but because Nesta is just a thousand times more interesting. I’m sorry, Feyre was just very bland in this book.
- The other sister and dad: yeah.
- The romance
- I’m not even sure we can call it a romance. Rushed is not the word to describe Feyre and Tamlin’s love story. No, the best word is unfounded. I didn’t feel invested in their love story nor did I feel like they actually liked each other. They were barely together! Their blandness multiplied x1000 when they were together.
- The villain
- It’s hard to feel the stakes of Amarantha’s tale. She’s a villain that isn’t very present for most of the book. Well, that’s not true—I mean, Faerie kind is is definitely being affected by her evilness but she’s not a very immediate villain. This is one of my critiques for this. Feyre’s supposed to be this badass but all of the conflict felt super superficial. It was mostly Tamlin taking care of it offscreen or Feyre having to be saved. IDK it felt hard for me to feel the stakes as a reader because not once did I ever feel like Feyre was actually in danger. Although, it could be that I wouldn’t care if Feyre died. At any rate, I think for something that’s supposed to be so immediate, and so horrible and deadly, the “villainy” plot line was introduced or (sped up?) wayyyy too late.
- Is this a Beauty and the Beast retelling?
- Simply put, no. I think this is one aspect where I can wholeheartedly say that Maas genuinely failed. I feel like Beauty has such a very specific morality to it that it’s hard to separate it, as Maas attempts to do with the character of Amarantha. And it’s sad because there were definitely scenes that I felt were reminiscent of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. It was a valiant attempt. But the muddled motives of the villain really just seal this as unsuccessful, in my opinion.
- Most of it is so external (like the Beastliness), the beastliness of the original tale is an internal moral battle. Idk if this makes sense.
- Because I feel like I should say something I enjoyed: I really liked the first two chapters. It felt pretty atmospheric. I also thought the ending was really interesting (not the riddle lol) and it seemed like a clever way to set things up for the next book.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't usually read menage, but this was really well done. I liked that we joined in the middle of the action and it was very fast paced. I also really like the set up for the next books. The structure of the families interested me and I can see how Robert is building the different dynamics.
I liked the trio in this, however, I really feel like character development needed some work. Particularly, I wanted to know more about Harlow. Though Harlow is present for much of the book I felt that it focused mostly on the dynamic between Abel and Eli.
Overall, this felt well done and I would read the rest of the series.
To be clear: this is an erotic romance with mature themes and violence.
I liked the trio in this, however, I really feel like character development needed some work. Particularly, I wanted to know more about Harlow. Though Harlow is present for much of the book I felt that it focused mostly on the dynamic between Abel and Eli.
Overall, this felt well done and I would read the rest of the series.
To be clear: this is an erotic romance with mature themes and violence.