I absolutely love Charlie and Nick. I also love that Oseman is exploring other queer relationships in this volume. I appreciate the touch on mental health and mental illness. And I definitely appreciate that as cute as this young romance is, it’s very realistic about what it’s like to be queer and coming out. It’s nothing like movies where there’s this one coming out scene and things are normal. And even if most of your family is supportive, there’s always one or two that struggles with the “change” in the norm or just outright homophobic. I can’t wait to see where this story goes! 

Okay I’m very pro poly relationships where it’s a woman dating 3 separate guys who all live together and raise a family together not caring who the father is (literally my favorite thing in the Netflix show, Sense8) but this did not give that. Look the Zodiac Academy isn’t some genius work of literature. I loved the characters and the plot and the world. I think they’re all great, but definitely they could’ve been better with more editing and shaving the rough edges. It’s clear that this series isn’t even close to the level of ZA. It’s very much just erotica with no plot AND it throws away the rules established in ZA. I hate that I read this and now it’s ingrained inside my head but so glad that the authors at least left this part of Gabriel’s life vague in ZA that I can at least pretend this never happened.
 
It’s established that not only are Elysian Mates extremely rare, but it’s even rarer to find your mate. So you’re telling me this average vampire with no significant power has not only FOUR Elysian mates but that she also found all of them? Absolutely not. The explanation that she has four E.M.s because her soul was fractured is also insulting to the poly community AND doesn’t make sense. She wasn’t born with a fractured soul and fate is set in stone AND meeting your E.M. isn’t fated. By the time her soul was fractured, she and the guys were already adults. 

I know this is just a book, but nothing pisses me off more than continuity errors (and I mean major ones). I liked Elise at the start of the series, but she’s just this selfish two-dimensional character that in no way seems like the perfect match for Gabriel let alone the three other men. She says she’s there to avenge her brother’s murder but it’s clear she’s burying her grief under lusting over these four guys, who all happen to be prime murder suspects. Another serious theme that could’ve been addressed in the series if this was an actual serious series. But it’s just straight smut. 

Additionally, Elise’s explanation for wanting to date these four men at once (which is totally fine and within her rights) is that she doesn’t want to entrust her heart to one person because it gives too much power to one person. Which is not what being poly is at all. It would make more sense that these separate relationships taught her things about herself and the men learned how to open up about things and learn about themselves. There definitely could’ve been a natural development where she could trust one person to hold her heart and that person happened to be her E.M. and the others could’ve been her Nebular Allies. Also, she says she loves these men and they love her but why? They don’t know much about each other and everything is superficial. Mostly just sex and lust driving them to each other. The entire books she’s constantly arguing with the men about how she doesn’t want to be trapped in a relationship and controlled (totally understandable) and she feared being forced by an E.M. bond to love one person and hurt the others. But then the E.M. bond is forcing the four men to relinquish what they want and now they’re all stuck with each other. It just doesn’t sit right with me. It’d be way different if there wasn’t E.M. bonds and they all CHOSE to live together and raise children. 

The entire series could’ve been 3 books MAX. This series is exhausting and it just stretches out the King mystery way too long. 

I will admit I do like Ryder and Dante a lot. I think Ryder is funny and Dante is loving. Gabriel is more cringe and I definitely like him better in ZA than in this series. Leon is just as annoying as ever. And after 5 books, I don’t like Elise at all. I think she’s vapid and selfish to an absolute fault. A two-dimensional character with the personality of a walnut. The “little angel”, “angel”, and “little monster” nicknames were so cringe. 

That all being said there were moments that I thought were funny, sweet, and entertaining. I just wish it had the depth that ZA has and wasn’t just 5 books of porn. 

First off, go read the ACOTAR and ToG series before you read CC. I’m 100% recommending these series if you’re really into political epic fantasies with romance. I really friggin love these books despite how long they are (and despite Chaol’s ToG book). This won’t be a genuine review just comments about what happened and my excitement. All you need to know is that yes it’s a lot, but it’s so good if this genre is your thing. 

Okay. There’s gonna be major spoilers for the ToG, CC, and ACOTAR series in this review so brace yourself. 

First thing’s first, in the next book Ruhn, Hunt, and Baxion better be fine and they better be fine within the first third of the book. If they don’t get rescued until 60%+ way through the book, I will lose it. 

I have to say ever since I read that Aelin fell through a world that I suspected was Velaris and a Fae male fitting Rhys’ description helped her, I have been PRAYING this day would come and SJM wasn’t just dicking around with random Easter eggs. 

I started my SJM journey with the ACOTAR series in summer of 2021 with a quick follow up of the ToG series. I was trying to wait to start CC but alas, I caved April 2022 and now I’ll have to wait a year before I know the fates of Bryce, Hunt, Ruhn, Baxion, Lidia, Hypaxia, Tharion, Ithan, Flynn, and Declan. And yes. I love each and every one of these characters and they all better survive the series. 

This book was a whole ride and a half. Just twists and turns everywhere. I was so stressed, but couldn’t stop reading until I knew things calmed down. I have to say that this world is my least favorite. At least in ToG it was clear the King was evil and everyone had shit lives in his kingdom. But in CC’s world? There’s 6 tyrants that rule the WORLD (after destroying many others) and give the people the illusion of happy lives. 

I felt myself trusting Baxion from the start. I keep hating the Danika surprises mostly because I know it hurts Bryce. It reminds me of a story or show/movie I’ve seen before. Dead best friend with secrets. It always hurts and eventually the surprises get annoying so I hope there’s no more magic bombs dropped in the coming book(s). 
I also immediately called Daybright’s identity and I REALLY ship her and Ruhn so friggin hard! I’m also glad Bryce and Hunt finally got it on and I appreciate their relationship. I love the mer that live on the city ship and they’re sneakiness. Ithan, Declan, and Flynn have definitely grown on me and they remind me so much of brothers. 
I can’t wait to see what this Fenyr Alpha will be like. We need more powerful females in this friend group! I hope Ithan gets his own pack and Sabine gets her due. I can’t say I’m happy with Hypaxia and her choice of lover. I don’t trust that Archangel and Hypaxia definitely deserves better. Also, will Ari return? I love a dragon. I hope Tharion finds a way out of the Viper Queen’s grasp. 
I hated that Sophie was actually dead and Cormac died. We need powerful beings people and I JUST started to warm up to Cormac. 

I’m not a huge fan that Bryce requires another’s powers to jumpstart hers. I want my all-power Fae badass. Also, I don’t remember there being gateways in Velaris or anywhere there so how did Bryce land there? I know there are gates throughout Aelin’s world on each continent, so that won’t be an issue. 

Hunt getting the halo again GUTTED ME. As soon as I realized it was Azriel, I SCREAMED. I nearly fainted when Rhys introduced himself. 

I have no idea what SJM has in store for the ACOTAR series after this. Will this be just a mid-series plot device, or will it be the end all for both ACOTAR and CC? It sucks that the wait is so long! But all I have to say is Aelin better be in the books. I need her and Bryce to be friends immediately. They are two of my all time favorite literary characters and I love them so much. Hate the next book won’t be out until 2023/24! WRITE FASTER SJM!!

A really good and fun start to the series. I like that they’ve incorporated Kamala’s culture in the books and how she struggles with her identity not just as a teen but as brown, Muslim, first generation teen. Classic superhero coming into their own story as well. Really excited to see what’s next!

I’ll say I really thought this book had its moments. It’s the first book I’ve read where the male love interest had golden retriever energy. I like that Alex is protective of Lauren but I know I’d feel just as uncomfortable as Lauren and feel like a nuisance too. I didn’t really like Alex negging her constantly and at first I didn’t like that he compared her to a Picasso or a bird or the Venus of Willendorf, but he thought those things about her made her cute, charming, interesting, and ultimately, beautiful and sexy. I also really loved that Alex was really into fanfic and the tropes. It was obvious to me (and apparently all his friends) he was crushing on Lauren almost from the start. I will admit there are moments where it didn’t seem like their relationship didn’t really fit. I was happy they actually communicated with each other and are actively working on themselves. The stress in the importance of therapy was amazing. And the conversation about domestic violence from the perspective of a loved one that was unaware of the abuse was pretty spot on. I think Lauren is a pretty accurate portrayal for a lot of big women and how we try to make ourselves as small as possible for the sake of others. I haven’t read Spoiler Alert but I think I’ll give it a shot after this. 

I don’t even know why I keep reading this. But here I am. I keep re-writing shit in my mind because this is so cringe. Like the dialogue and sex scenes are getting so awkward. And the insinuation that something romantic will happen between Roary and Rosalie in the future is so vom and problematic. I skimmed like 75% of this book and still understood what was going on (and it still took me 2 weeks to complete). I cannot for the life of me see this being connected to ZA. This “mystery” of Gareth’s murder is so tiresome. They had to through in the whole “did he fake his death” twist just to make it interesting. 
Elise seems to only really be a good match for Leon but not the others. Her “relationships” with the guys are problematic and can’t see how she loves any of them when 90% of their relationship is sex. Idk. ZA isn’t like some literary work of genius but it has way more substance than this. 

I really like that this volume focuses on Nick’s journey to discovering his sexuality. It’s incredibly realistic and I just really love the development of his and Charlie’s relationship. This is the series I wish I had at 14. 

I watched the Netflix special despite wanting to read the webcomic first, but the show made me want to read it even MORE. I think this is such a cute little love story between two queer teens in such a realistic and wholesome setting. 

I did very much love this book. I ended up staying up all night to finish it before falling asleep 250 short of the end. It is longer than it needs to be but at the same time I like that the investigation is hard and confusion with a lot of dead ends. Like a real investigation.

I always knew Micah was shady and his death was HILARIOUS. I was completely shocked at Hunt’s betrayal. I always knew he’d rebel when he got the chance, but not like this.

This book puts you through the emotional ringer. I like Bryce a lot. I think she’s funny and a straight badass. I’ve seen other people says she’s a classic “I’m not like other girls”, but I don’t see that at all. I see a normal, young woman that likes to party. I don’t use drugs but I know lots of young people use it recreationally and it made Bryce more real to me.

There’s also the obvious consequences of her using drugs the night Danika dies. The revelations of Danika’s death and synth and the Horn were all over the place, but I think that’s the point.

The swearing was also like ridiculously on point. My friend and I swear just like this and just as much, so that was very relatable. This book made me laugh, made me cry, and made me happy. 
I think that Bryce’s grief and depression were also extremely relatable and written well. And it took a whole book for her to get to a better place. I also LOVE that she uses other people’s preconceived notions about her to her advantage. She’s also pretty sex positive, even though it’s clear she does use sex sometimes as a form of self-medication for her grief and as a way to combat the underlying feelings she has about being seen as a “lesser” being. Bryce is badass. She can fight, shoot, and wear all the girly girl stuff women get bashed about on the daily. I like her attitude and am excited to see where the story goes from here. 

Okay this is just dragging on. I’m realizing how shallow and two-dimensional Elise is and she’s really getting on my nerves. The fact that she keeps stringing along these men that aren’t okay with her dating multiple guys is so fucked up. She should just let them go. She’s also supposed to be here to solve her brother’s murder and is never actively trying to do that. Maybe for 5% of the book. The rest is just filler. Spice was decent in this book. The mystery of who King is still has me interested but I’m really over the relationships between her and the guys. And Ugh her calling them her Kings and their Queen is so cringe. No thanks.

the fact that she’s Elysian Mates with Leon make way more sense than her with any of the other guys but given her thoughts in the last chapter she’s not ready to give them up. I swear I’m gonna be pissed if the authors disregard the rules just so she can be mated to another one or all of them.