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lisashelves's Reviews (976)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
Perfect on Paper is a novel about Darcy, a high school student, who runs an anonymous relationship advice business from locker 89. One day she gets caught and hired to help Brougham get back with his ex.
“Her advice, spot-on. Her love life, way off”
Another one of those books I saved especially for this month to read. I don’t say that I wouldn’t enjoy this book if I’d read it any other month, but right now just feels like the perfect time to read it. Same with wintery books I don’t want to read in summer hahaha.
Usually, I’m not a person who reads loads of contemporary books. I do say to myself I should read them more often, as the ones I have read were really good and enjoyable to read haha.
I loved the writing and pacing in this book. It is very cleverly done and fresh to read. I also really loved the letters and emails at beginnings of in chapters. The theory that went into the answers was so good! I often found myself thinking about the things Darcy told in her responses and sometimes found myself connecting to letters that were written. I loved that! The topics of consent, healthy communication and boundaries being explored is truly amazing.
The characters, just as the writing, were cleverly and cleanly written. They were very well developed and fleshed out. Both Darcy and Brougham were different, with their own issues. I loved how the things they struggled with, their actions and how they go through life were so real. They could easily have been people who I went to school with. I loved the aspect exploring who they were, but also showing their flaws, struggles, regrets. It made them that much more real and easier to connect to them. Darcy especially is someone I adored. She’s super smart, funny and a bit quirky as well.
The relationships in this book really make it shine. The friendships, crushes and relationships are a base where this book and characters were built upon. All different sort of relationships is shown, from family relationships, to romantic ones, to friendship ones. All aspects were explored, the good and bad parts of those relationships and it made the story wholesome.
I also really loved the representation in this book. Darcy, who is bisexual, and the portrayal of that. The one scene towards the end, talking about biphobia and bisexuality, is truly a distinct and shining moment in this book. I truly believe this book to be a comfort to those struggling with the same feelings and ideas Darcy did.
Overall, this book was a joy to read! I enjoyed every minute spend reading this book with its witty characters and the fun plot.
Perfect on Paper is a novel about Darcy, a high school student, who runs an anonymous relationship advice business from locker 89. One day she gets caught and hired to help Brougham get back with his ex.
“Her advice, spot-on. Her love life, way off”
Another one of those books I saved especially for this month to read. I don’t say that I wouldn’t enjoy this book if I’d read it any other month, but right now just feels like the perfect time to read it. Same with wintery books I don’t want to read in summer hahaha.
Usually, I’m not a person who reads loads of contemporary books. I do say to myself I should read them more often, as the ones I have read were really good and enjoyable to read haha.
I loved the writing and pacing in this book. It is very cleverly done and fresh to read. I also really loved the letters and emails at beginnings of in chapters. The theory that went into the answers was so good! I often found myself thinking about the things Darcy told in her responses and sometimes found myself connecting to letters that were written. I loved that! The topics of consent, healthy communication and boundaries being explored is truly amazing.
The characters, just as the writing, were cleverly and cleanly written. They were very well developed and fleshed out. Both Darcy and Brougham were different, with their own issues. I loved how the things they struggled with, their actions and how they go through life were so real. They could easily have been people who I went to school with. I loved the aspect exploring who they were, but also showing their flaws, struggles, regrets. It made them that much more real and easier to connect to them. Darcy especially is someone I adored. She’s super smart, funny and a bit quirky as well.
The relationships in this book really make it shine. The friendships, crushes and relationships are a base where this book and characters were built upon. All different sort of relationships is shown, from family relationships, to romantic ones, to friendship ones. All aspects were explored, the good and bad parts of those relationships and it made the story wholesome.
I also really loved the representation in this book. Darcy, who is bisexual, and the portrayal of that. The one scene towards the end, talking about biphobia and bisexuality, is truly a distinct and shining moment in this book. I truly believe this book to be a comfort to those struggling with the same feelings and ideas Darcy did.
Overall, this book was a joy to read! I enjoyed every minute spend reading this book with its witty characters and the fun plot.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review!
Nura and the Immortal Palace is a middle grade Fantasy book with Pakistani and Muslim rep. It follows Nura, a mica child miner, who dug to deep and caused a mine to collapse. When this happened her friend Faisal got trapped and she was determined to get him out, only to fall into the realm of the Jinn.
Warning content: child labor
“Educating people, eliminating their ignorance… I believe that’s the best way to keep chaos in check.”
I believe middle grade books are often overlooked because of the rating, but some of them are truly hidden gems! Yes, they aren’t always as deep or complex as YA of NA, but still the story in itself can be amazing with an amazing message, just as this book.
The plot for this book is relatively simple, but very impactful to read. While in the beginning, the impact isn’t really as potent as later on, it does grab your attention from the very first page. The way the heavier topics are tackled is really well done. It isn’t sugarcoated with its dangers or how wrong it is. I really appreciated that.
The writing was really well done as well. It truly brought forth the Studio Ghibli vibes it was said this book had. The book has really vivid and colorful descriptions of the places, clothing, food and everything in between and it made this book so easy to picture! I did struggle a bit with the world. I was confused about the “real world”, as it was confusing if it was in an alternate reality or in our world. The rules etc. of the Jinn realm aren’t also really mentioned, so I didn’t really have an idea what was happening unit it happened. On the other hand, some parts were really predictable as well.
Nura is a wonderful courageous character, but childlike as well. She fluctuates in feeling childlike and mature depending on the situation. While seeing the wonder in the Jinn realm, you really notice she is so young. On the other hand, when working or thinking of her family she shows a really mature sign. It is almost sad she has this side, because the hard circumstances that created it. All characters have depth to them, even the “bad” ones which makes them quite likable and you sympathize more with them.
Another thing that really got to me in this book was the topic of education. Nura believing it isn’t for her, because she needs to work to help her family broke my heart. But her wanting to sent her younger siblings was heartwarming at the same time. It also really ties in with the growth of her as a character, which is subtle but powerful.
A lot of events did seem a bit rushed to me and thus didn’t really gave me the full impact they could’ve had, such as the eating competition, the casino and the ending. That was a pity, I would’ve liked those to be a bit more fleshed out and maybe be given a bit more attention.
Overall, it was a fun and whimsical story with a really strong message about education and child labor, that I enjoyed.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review!
Nura and the Immortal Palace is a middle grade Fantasy book with Pakistani and Muslim rep. It follows Nura, a mica child miner, who dug to deep and caused a mine to collapse. When this happened her friend Faisal got trapped and she was determined to get him out, only to fall into the realm of the Jinn.
Warning content: child labor
“Educating people, eliminating their ignorance… I believe that’s the best way to keep chaos in check.”
I believe middle grade books are often overlooked because of the rating, but some of them are truly hidden gems! Yes, they aren’t always as deep or complex as YA of NA, but still the story in itself can be amazing with an amazing message, just as this book.
The plot for this book is relatively simple, but very impactful to read. While in the beginning, the impact isn’t really as potent as later on, it does grab your attention from the very first page. The way the heavier topics are tackled is really well done. It isn’t sugarcoated with its dangers or how wrong it is. I really appreciated that.
The writing was really well done as well. It truly brought forth the Studio Ghibli vibes it was said this book had. The book has really vivid and colorful descriptions of the places, clothing, food and everything in between and it made this book so easy to picture! I did struggle a bit with the world. I was confused about the “real world”, as it was confusing if it was in an alternate reality or in our world. The rules etc. of the Jinn realm aren’t also really mentioned, so I didn’t really have an idea what was happening unit it happened. On the other hand, some parts were really predictable as well.
Nura is a wonderful courageous character, but childlike as well. She fluctuates in feeling childlike and mature depending on the situation. While seeing the wonder in the Jinn realm, you really notice she is so young. On the other hand, when working or thinking of her family she shows a really mature sign. It is almost sad she has this side, because the hard circumstances that created it. All characters have depth to them, even the “bad” ones which makes them quite likable and you sympathize more with them.
Another thing that really got to me in this book was the topic of education. Nura believing it isn’t for her, because she needs to work to help her family broke my heart. But her wanting to sent her younger siblings was heartwarming at the same time. It also really ties in with the growth of her as a character, which is subtle but powerful.
A lot of events did seem a bit rushed to me and thus didn’t really gave me the full impact they could’ve had, such as the eating competition, the casino and the ending. That was a pity, I would’ve liked those to be a bit more fleshed out and maybe be given a bit more attention.
Overall, it was a fun and whimsical story with a really strong message about education and child labor, that I enjoyed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
Can’t Take That Away is a novel about a genderqueer teen, Carey, who finds the courage to start singing again by auditioning for the Spring musical, while at the same time struggling with the discrimination he faces for who he is.
“Less discrimination is not acceptable. There needs to be zero discrimination.”
This novel is another one of those books I got gifted at a time I didn’t feel like it was the right moment to read it, so it has been on my shelves for a few months. After finishing some fantasy novels, I really felt this book calling to me so I picked it up.
This book was such a wonderful, messy contemporary story! I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting! I fell in love with the cast of characters and felt strongly about what they were fighting for! The way they went about the activism, protesting and fighting for what they believed in and were their rights, was really well done. It was really realistic and believable how it was portrayed.
The representation is really well done and in a way that is really believable. The characters struggle with problems I know friends of mine have struggled with. The same with some struggles I know are present at different schools, which really shouldn’t be! I loved the strong believe in equality for everybody and how school should always be a save place for everybody.
Carey is such a sweet bean that should be protected at all costs, but should also shine as bright as the diva he is meant to be! I fell in love with Carey from the very first page. So intriguing, strong, courageous all at once. You can’t help but root for Carey from the very moment you start reading this book! The other characters as well, Joey, Monroe, Cris, Mr. Kelly, Blanca and Phoebe, were really fleshed out and really added to everything. I also loved how different aged-characters were present who felt the same discrimination and other adults who stood up for the kids.
The romance was really sweetly done, but didn’t feel very necessary to tell the story that needed to be told. I really liked Carey and Cris together, but the tension in the second half sometimes took away a bit of the attention to the main plot. It wasn’t really an issue though to enjoy the book to its fullest.
Overall, it was an amazing book with a strong message about how school should be a save place and how discrimination should never, in any circumstance, be accepted. It had wonderful characters and if you are a Mariah Carey fan, there are lots of references hahaha.
Can’t Take That Away is a novel about a genderqueer teen, Carey, who finds the courage to start singing again by auditioning for the Spring musical, while at the same time struggling with the discrimination he faces for who he is.
“Less discrimination is not acceptable. There needs to be zero discrimination.”
This novel is another one of those books I got gifted at a time I didn’t feel like it was the right moment to read it, so it has been on my shelves for a few months. After finishing some fantasy novels, I really felt this book calling to me so I picked it up.
This book was such a wonderful, messy contemporary story! I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting! I fell in love with the cast of characters and felt strongly about what they were fighting for! The way they went about the activism, protesting and fighting for what they believed in and were their rights, was really well done. It was really realistic and believable how it was portrayed.
The representation is really well done and in a way that is really believable. The characters struggle with problems I know friends of mine have struggled with. The same with some struggles I know are present at different schools, which really shouldn’t be! I loved the strong believe in equality for everybody and how school should always be a save place for everybody.
Carey is such a sweet bean that should be protected at all costs, but should also shine as bright as the diva he is meant to be! I fell in love with Carey from the very first page. So intriguing, strong, courageous all at once. You can’t help but root for Carey from the very moment you start reading this book! The other characters as well, Joey, Monroe, Cris, Mr. Kelly, Blanca and Phoebe, were really fleshed out and really added to everything. I also loved how different aged-characters were present who felt the same discrimination and other adults who stood up for the kids.
The romance was really sweetly done, but didn’t feel very necessary to tell the story that needed to be told. I really liked Carey and Cris together, but the tension in the second half sometimes took away a bit of the attention to the main plot. It wasn’t really an issue though to enjoy the book to its fullest.
Overall, it was an amazing book with a strong message about how school should be a save place and how discrimination should never, in any circumstance, be accepted. It had wonderful characters and if you are a Mariah Carey fan, there are lots of references hahaha.
⭐️⭐️ /2 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review
Youngblood is a story about Youngblood Vampires, especially Kat, who goes behind her mom’s back to get enrolled in an elite boarding school for vampires, where she becomes roommates with Taylor, her ex-best friend.
I’ve been having a very hard time trying to write this review and it mostly has to do with the very mixed feelings this book gave me. While I wasn’t very overwhelmed or moved by this story, I did enjoy it. There was just this nagging feeling I kept having while reading it. Something was really bugging me and I just couldn’t put my finger on what was causing this feeling, but I knew it wasn’t something good. It was like having eaten something you don't like and having this nasty aftertaste that just won't go away. After putting it to rest for a few days it finally clicked. I was actually really disappointed by the racism and blatant disrespect in this book.
While I liked the plot itself, the execution was poorly done. I understand that Kat grew up with humans and thus has other views, but the contrast was just made way to big. As if she was better than everybody else, because she did ask for pronouns etc. It became a bit annoying actually how much it was emphasized that she did ask and the rest ignored it. It made Kat annoying and repetitive and it made all the other elite vampire seem more racist.
I found it also rather disrespectful how the only Asian character, from who it is specifically mentioned she is Chinese, is sort of painted as this bad person, because she ensues violence and has this “We elite are better than all other and thus why should we care about those beneath us” attitude, which is really harmful. It became uncomfortable to read the scenes such as the penthouse party due to this.
Another reason I found this book disrespectful and racist is a passage said by a character (honestly, I already forgot his name). His mother is from colonized India and brought to England(?) by his father. Him saying “It wasn’t like that” really turned my stomach. HOW can you put something like that in a book? It should never be even mentioned like that. It really felt like the author just made a character biracial, to just ignore the non-white half of this character and disrespect that.
The disease as well really reminded me of AIDS/HIV as I kept thinking about it. Something that was first discovered in the 60s, uncurable and people who are trying to find a cure for it. While that doesn’t have to be a problem necessarily, it is just another drop in the bucket for this book. it felt way too much like our real-world was added in a fantasy book.
The romance part of this book, which was quite a focal point of this story, it was also poorly executed. The build-up felt forced and a bit weird. Kat suddenly asking if she was gay and her “realization” were weirdly done and not believable to be honest, which made the relationship fickle.
The ending was also something which seemed unbelievable. A bunch of teenagers letting everyone hear the truth and suddenly they are believed and all is good. It seemed like a rushed and not thought-out ending.
Overall, the concept and plot were a good idea, but it was just executed really poorly and the racism and disrespect added to that made it a book I wouldn’t recommend.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review
Youngblood is a story about Youngblood Vampires, especially Kat, who goes behind her mom’s back to get enrolled in an elite boarding school for vampires, where she becomes roommates with Taylor, her ex-best friend.
I’ve been having a very hard time trying to write this review and it mostly has to do with the very mixed feelings this book gave me. While I wasn’t very overwhelmed or moved by this story, I did enjoy it. There was just this nagging feeling I kept having while reading it. Something was really bugging me and I just couldn’t put my finger on what was causing this feeling, but I knew it wasn’t something good. It was like having eaten something you don't like and having this nasty aftertaste that just won't go away. After putting it to rest for a few days it finally clicked. I was actually really disappointed by the racism and blatant disrespect in this book.
While I liked the plot itself, the execution was poorly done. I understand that Kat grew up with humans and thus has other views, but the contrast was just made way to big. As if she was better than everybody else, because she did ask for pronouns etc. It became a bit annoying actually how much it was emphasized that she did ask and the rest ignored it. It made Kat annoying and repetitive and it made all the other elite vampire seem more racist.
I found it also rather disrespectful how the only Asian character, from who it is specifically mentioned she is Chinese, is sort of painted as this bad person, because she ensues violence and has this “We elite are better than all other and thus why should we care about those beneath us” attitude, which is really harmful. It became uncomfortable to read the scenes such as the penthouse party due to this.
Another reason I found this book disrespectful and racist is a passage said by a character (honestly, I already forgot his name). His mother is from colonized India and brought to England(?) by his father. Him saying “It wasn’t like that” really turned my stomach. HOW can you put something like that in a book? It should never be even mentioned like that. It really felt like the author just made a character biracial, to just ignore the non-white half of this character and disrespect that.
The disease as well really reminded me of AIDS/HIV as I kept thinking about it. Something that was first discovered in the 60s, uncurable and people who are trying to find a cure for it. While that doesn’t have to be a problem necessarily, it is just another drop in the bucket for this book. it felt way too much like our real-world was added in a fantasy book.
The romance part of this book, which was quite a focal point of this story, it was also poorly executed. The build-up felt forced and a bit weird. Kat suddenly asking if she was gay and her “realization” were weirdly done and not believable to be honest, which made the relationship fickle.
The ending was also something which seemed unbelievable. A bunch of teenagers letting everyone hear the truth and suddenly they are believed and all is good. It seemed like a rushed and not thought-out ending.
Overall, the concept and plot were a good idea, but it was just executed really poorly and the racism and disrespect added to that made it a book I wouldn’t recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /4 stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
This Vicious Grace is a story about Alessa, the Finestra, who has killed her three previous spouces with her powers and needs to find a fourth quickly before the island is attacked by vicious creatures.
“Chi cerca trova. Seek and you shall find”
This Vicious Grace is an Italian inspired story, which HELL YES! As someone who is half Italian, I love reading books that explore that! I loved the language being used often in this book haha. Some of the words though, I think could’ve been better or different because they were a bit cringy. Some words, like Dea and Finestra, seemed a bit straightforward in using. I think the writer could’ve used a little bit more creativity. As Dante said in the book “I feel ridiculous calling you ‘Finestra’, window”, it really summed up what I was thinking from the beginning… it was cringy to keep on reading that. To someone who doesn’t know the translation, it might sound like a pretty word, but for me it was just a bit weird.
From the very beginning, you really get thrown into this story. It starts off with a very fast pace and Alessa’s chaotic life really corresponds with the pacing. I do think the pacing could've been slowed down and overall more consistent. The few first chapters are quite strong on world-building, but while it wasn’t really an information-dump, I still felt a bit overwhelmed by it. It also often seemed as if certain plot point or information should’ve been given (maybe it was and I just didn’t understand or grasp it) because often I was confused and wanted more information to better understand.
The magic system is another amazingly written part in this story. It is very intriguing, with Fonti and a Finestra, Ghiotti and scarabeo. While it took me a while to fully understand what they all meant and what the differences were (again, more information that I wanted sooner in the story), once it was clear the cleverness and well though-out system really blew me away. It is just a bit of a pity it took reading almost 60% of the book to fully understand it.
The characters were truly amazing. Alessa is quite smart and very relatable with her thoughts and feelings. Dante truly stole my heart this book! He is very sassy (love it!), witty, but also very caring and sweet. I also really loved the mystery surrounding his name hahaha. The others in the book, the Fonti, family, mentors, are also really well written and fleshed out. I would love to explore their stories more though.
I loved the romance, enemies-to-lovers part in this story and was really invested in it! It is quite a main focus and the chemistry between Alessa and Dante really shone on these pages. It really added to the story instead of taking away from it.
The ending felt a little rushed to me. With the battle at the end, which I loved how that all played out, it felt really quick somehow. It somehow felt too quick. I did really like how this book ended though. It isn’t on a cliffhanger, but it is a bit like getting a small taste of what’s to come and wanting more.
Overall, it was a really good book that I enjoyed. I would’ve liked it to be a bit slower paced, but the magic and adventure in the story is really solid and intriguing.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
This Vicious Grace is a story about Alessa, the Finestra, who has killed her three previous spouces with her powers and needs to find a fourth quickly before the island is attacked by vicious creatures.
“Chi cerca trova. Seek and you shall find”
This Vicious Grace is an Italian inspired story, which HELL YES! As someone who is half Italian, I love reading books that explore that! I loved the language being used often in this book haha. Some of the words though, I think could’ve been better or different because they were a bit cringy. Some words, like Dea and Finestra, seemed a bit straightforward in using. I think the writer could’ve used a little bit more creativity. As Dante said in the book “I feel ridiculous calling you ‘Finestra’, window”, it really summed up what I was thinking from the beginning… it was cringy to keep on reading that. To someone who doesn’t know the translation, it might sound like a pretty word, but for me it was just a bit weird.
From the very beginning, you really get thrown into this story. It starts off with a very fast pace and Alessa’s chaotic life really corresponds with the pacing. I do think the pacing could've been slowed down and overall more consistent. The few first chapters are quite strong on world-building, but while it wasn’t really an information-dump, I still felt a bit overwhelmed by it. It also often seemed as if certain plot point or information should’ve been given (maybe it was and I just didn’t understand or grasp it) because often I was confused and wanted more information to better understand.
The magic system is another amazingly written part in this story. It is very intriguing, with Fonti and a Finestra, Ghiotti and scarabeo. While it took me a while to fully understand what they all meant and what the differences were (again, more information that I wanted sooner in the story), once it was clear the cleverness and well though-out system really blew me away. It is just a bit of a pity it took reading almost 60% of the book to fully understand it.
The characters were truly amazing. Alessa is quite smart and very relatable with her thoughts and feelings. Dante truly stole my heart this book! He is very sassy (love it!), witty, but also very caring and sweet. I also really loved the mystery surrounding his name hahaha. The others in the book, the Fonti, family, mentors, are also really well written and fleshed out. I would love to explore their stories more though.
I loved the romance, enemies-to-lovers part in this story and was really invested in it! It is quite a main focus and the chemistry between Alessa and Dante really shone on these pages. It really added to the story instead of taking away from it.
The ending felt a little rushed to me. With the battle at the end, which I loved how that all played out, it felt really quick somehow. It somehow felt too quick. I did really like how this book ended though. It isn’t on a cliffhanger, but it is a bit like getting a small taste of what’s to come and wanting more.
Overall, it was a really good book that I enjoyed. I would’ve liked it to be a bit slower paced, but the magic and adventure in the story is really solid and intriguing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via BookOfMatchesMedia in exchange for an honest review!
A Duel with the Vampire Lord is the third novel in the Married to Magic series. It is a story about Floriane, a force maiden, who is taken by the Vampire Lord to help him break the curse on his people.
“I might be the forge maiden, but I am no delicate flower. I am as cold as silver. As strong as iron. I will bend for destiny, but not for any man.”
A Duel with the Vampire Lord takes place in the same world as A Deal with the Elf King and A Dance with the Fae Prince. You don’t have to read either book to enjoy this one! I’ve only read A Deal with the Elf King myself previously and could enjoy this book fully without having the idea I missed something because I hadn’t read A Dance with the Fae Prince yet.
I really enjoyed the plot of this book, with a curse that needs to be broken and enemies being forced to work together. The world building was done very well, a lot more complex that A Deal with the Elf King in my opinion. Maybe that was also the reason it was a little harder to get into. The same could be said about the magic system, while very unique, it was very complex and sometimes I had to re-read a passage to fully understand what was being told.
I really enjoyed Floriane as a character. She was very over paranoid, which made her quite funny sometimes. She is more than meets the eye and I loved discovering those layers. Ruvan is just super sweet to be honest. I had expected him to be more of a grey character than he was.
The romance between the two is quite cute, I loved the line “Let’s hate each other so we can forgive ourselves for wanting each other.” It actually really sums up their dynamics of trying to hate each other to not have to think about their real feelings for each other.
The ending was really satisfying to read. There wasn’t really a super big plot twist, but I really liked the direction the ending had gone.
Overall, it was another enjoyable book written by Elise Kova! A story about hope that I enjoyed with likable characters and a well developed world.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via BookOfMatchesMedia in exchange for an honest review!
A Duel with the Vampire Lord is the third novel in the Married to Magic series. It is a story about Floriane, a force maiden, who is taken by the Vampire Lord to help him break the curse on his people.
“I might be the forge maiden, but I am no delicate flower. I am as cold as silver. As strong as iron. I will bend for destiny, but not for any man.”
A Duel with the Vampire Lord takes place in the same world as A Deal with the Elf King and A Dance with the Fae Prince. You don’t have to read either book to enjoy this one! I’ve only read A Deal with the Elf King myself previously and could enjoy this book fully without having the idea I missed something because I hadn’t read A Dance with the Fae Prince yet.
I really enjoyed the plot of this book, with a curse that needs to be broken and enemies being forced to work together. The world building was done very well, a lot more complex that A Deal with the Elf King in my opinion. Maybe that was also the reason it was a little harder to get into. The same could be said about the magic system, while very unique, it was very complex and sometimes I had to re-read a passage to fully understand what was being told.
I really enjoyed Floriane as a character. She was very over paranoid, which made her quite funny sometimes. She is more than meets the eye and I loved discovering those layers. Ruvan is just super sweet to be honest. I had expected him to be more of a grey character than he was.
The romance between the two is quite cute, I loved the line “Let’s hate each other so we can forgive ourselves for wanting each other.” It actually really sums up their dynamics of trying to hate each other to not have to think about their real feelings for each other.
The ending was really satisfying to read. There wasn’t really a super big plot twist, but I really liked the direction the ending had gone.
Spoiler
The only thing I found a pity was that they had to put Ruvan to sleep at some point, making him absent in the ending "fight" and everything.Overall, it was another enjoyable book written by Elise Kova! A story about hope that I enjoyed with likable characters and a well developed world.
