hann_cant_read's reviews
468 reviews

The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

It was just boring. If it was longer I probably would have dnf'd.

Content Warnings

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

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Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I genuinely loved this as a modern take on Celtic folklore. I'm typically not a horror person, but I think this was really well done. Some of the body horror stuff made me cringe but I'm easily made to cringe, so that's a low bar.
I am absolutely a sucker for sibling love / loyalty. I'll eat that shit up every time and this book was no different. Seeing the lengths that these sisters would go to to protect each other, even while arguing / disagreeing and at times not knowing if the others would do the same for them? Chef's kiss.

I absolutely cannot believe how long it took me to realize Gabe was the masked man. There were so many clues leading up to the reveal and she still got me

That being said, there were a few things I didn't like, in terms of characterization. To be honest though I think most of them are personal preference more than like ACTUAL problems with the story.
1.

I think the kiss with Iris and Tyler was unnecessary. We already saw with the broken pinky that Iris had an unhealthy obsession with wanting to be exactly like Grey. I feel like the kiss felt more like a betrayal to her sister than an obsession with wanting to be like her. It just didn't hit me the way I think it was meant to.

I think Iris should grow up and forgive Grey. I said what I said. I knowww that part of the growth was her realizing she didn't actually want to be just like Grey and that she can be strong without the violence. But idk, Grey would and did do everything for her sisters. And even with them abandoning her she would do it all over again, because it was the only way to save them. It feels different than a narcissist who requires you to be grateful and takes it out on you when you're not. She saved her sisters and will live her life alone if that's the consequence.

Content Warnings

Remedial Magic by Melissa Marr

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

I had to dnf at 33% when the headmaster banged Maggie and then admitted to misleading her about her son. The relationship felt icky anyway, but bruh.
The beginning made it seem like Crenshaw was the good magic place, but the more we got to know it through these kidnapped characters the shittier / more elitist it seemed.
I was so so bored, and every character was so annoying. I don't know how we were inside so many different character's heads and still learned so little about them and whats going on. I had no one to root for, everyone was just insufferable. I thought Maggie's storyline would at least be interesting but it really did not take much for her to go from worried mother to jumping her "captor's" bones.
Speaking of which. There is so much insta-lust it's a little nauseating. I love some good romance and/or smut but this didn't have either. No substance to the lust.

Night Shift by Annie Crown

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Content Warnings

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

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adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I really really wanted to love this, but to be honest it was only okay. The pacing was just a little off - really slow at some points that should have been exciting.
The love triangle, instead of being dramatic just kind of felt confusing, almost as if the author kept forgetting which one was supposed to be the love interest. There was also very little build up for them - just suddenly it was insanely intense, and maybe that's a me problem but I need more tension.
Then there were things logistically that just didn't make sense. Laith, in general. How is he new to Ettenia but also a high ranking official in the Horned Guard? How did he escape the vampires that captured him and/or why did they just let him go? (essentially rendering Arthie's betrayal completely useless/pointless without her having to do any internal work?) Why was she so thrown off by him wanting Calibore at the end when he literally told you he wanted the artifact right after you showed it to him?
How did everyone except Jin realize she was a half-vampire? Does she literally only drink coconuts and no blood? That just feels so weird and random, even with all the mentions of coconut throughout the story.
I know I complain a lot, but I did actually enjoy it, and I'm curious to see where the story goes.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

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fast-paced