nicoelena_lvr's Reviews (858)

LISTEN TO ME AND ADD THIS TO UR TBRS UR NOT GNA WANT TO MISS THIS ONEEEEE

This book was so unique and refreshing. I’ve not been this sucked in by a book in a MINUTE.

It was the only book I read consecutively for days without reading any other book in between (this might be a given for most ppl but trust me it’s a miracle for someone like me who usually rotates like three books at once). Keeping my attention like this isn’t easy but man am I in love with everything about this book??? Like what do u mean it’s over 😭😭 

The characters: 

Lilith — how I love her. She’s this mix of strong willed and bratty but is truly a big softy inside. Her character genuinely was inspiring, seeing her not back down from getting what she was owed. It was refreshing having an fmc not being this miraculously all knowing warrior but was just like ur average sad rich girl lmao 😭 she was so relatable. Her struggles made me so sad tho ugh so glad for what happened towards the end tho 😝😝😝 eat shit motherf* 

Zahariev — THIS MAN HOT DAMN! If you search my type you’d find this man’s name front and centre 🫦🫦🫦 when he’s patient, caring, has the RIGHT amount of sarcasm and knows when to shut the fuck up?? 🤚 just know he’s made it into my top book bf’s list like that’s how serious I’m talkinggggg

ALSO THE HOTNESS LEVEL IS SCORCHING LIKE IM TALKING TATS ALL OVER HIS BODY AND THICK THIGHS AND WHEN THE SPARKS EVENTUALLY LIGHT UP??? *rolls eyes to the back of my head and bites knuckles* 

Miss Scarlett really knows how to write tension 😮‍💨🪭🪭 the way i could feel it vibrating off the pages with their first few interactions and each one after that was so charged that when they finally gave in it made alllllll the impact. 

This is not to say it’s all built on lust because these two have genuine feelings towards each other that spans years. Their care for each other made my heart hurt 😭 like ugh the soft moments had me crashing out more than them eventually getting together did. I love their relationship so much I wanna inject it into my veinssssss

No bc I could write essays upon essays of the ways in which this man has usurped my brain space but I’ll leave you guys with a couple quotes to give u an idea what drug I’m on 😋😋

╰┈➤ ❝ “You want me to do something about it?” he asked. 

“You can’t,” I said. “Not without starting a war.” 

“I would go to war for you,” he said.  ❞

HELLO?? 

╰┈➤ ❝ “Would you ever consider teaching me to drive?” I asked. Zahariev glanced at me. “I’d teach you,” he said. “But let me buy a helmet first.” 

“Fuck off,” I said, pushing him. 

He chuckled, laughing at his own joke ❞

LMAO THEIR BANTER IS SO PERFECT

╰┈➤ ❝ “You are a coward, Zahariev.” His jaw ticked and his eyes darkened. 

“If I were a coward, I would have walked away from you a long time ago.” 

“You think you’re brave for handling me?” 

“No one handles you, Lilith,” he said. “Good fucking luck to the man who tries.” ❞

STOP MY HEARTTTT 😭😭

╰┈➤ ❝ “I’m sorry I’m only now seeing you,” I said. 

His gaze was steady as he stretched over me. “Don’t apologize, little love,” he said. “I could have remained invisible to you, and my devotion to you would be unchanging.” ❞

*falls dramatically to knees and clutches chest*

╰┈➤ ❝ “What does it mean? To be yours?” I asked. He smiled softly. “Whatever you want,” he said. “I’ll always be here, following in your shadow. I am not afraid of your freedom.” ❞

*cue the cries of injustice over him not being real*

The plot/writing: 

This is technically dual pov but 80% of the book is fmc’s pov and 20% the mmc’s. And Ykw the author was fucking clever for doing it in this way. Soooo fucking clever. Kept me hooked with snippets of his pov and I litch would devour every chapter just to get to his at the end like a reward. 

The pacing was slow but somehow I stayed interested and hooked. 

The themes addressed in this book mainly religion and its impact on politics and women was done with a care I truly appreciated. Seeing religious trauma depicted in many ways through this story broke my heart. 

After reading the acknowledgements I grew a newfound appreciation for St. Claire. I could see the detail and history that went into the writing of this book. The lore and fleshed out world that was built, it was genuinely fascinating especially towards the end where my questions were answered and then she left me reeling with more questions bc damn wdym it’s over! I need that next book and this one’s not even out yet 🙏🤧 

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and sourcebooksUK for the ARC! ♥︎

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

I GOT THE ARCCCC I AM SO HYPED FOR THIS BOOK OMFDS ONE OF MY MOST ANTICIPATED THIS YEAR

The blurb sounded so interesting but unfortunately this was a complete miss for me. 

Couldn’t connect to the characters at all. The storyline felt so flimsy and chaotic. I felt no chemistry between the fmc and mmc, their meet cute was also a mess. 

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC! ♥︎

I went into this book so excited thinking I’m gna find my new fav read but it did not go the way I expected 😭

The writing was so poor I found it hard to read without cringing badly. Not only was the inner monologue insufferable but the dialogue felt robotic and fake. There was no emotion?? 

 it’s marketed as a standalone but actually relies heavily on the first book, which I didn’t read, to build the foundation of the story. 

I couldn’t connect with the characters and their motivations at all. 

I’m so upset because I truly did want to enjoy this ☹️💔

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Hambright PR for the ARC! ♥︎

This book was such a pleasant surprise. I went in knowing next to nothing about the plot and characters so it really was the best time figuring things out lmao. I loved it. 

I love Veronica’s writing, it’s so bingeable. Kinda reminiscent of the twisted sisters. The humour is perfect and the characters are simple creatures but still so dark 😭

Luce, while being so clueless and very ‘fragile’ she still managed to not Pmo too much which I take as a win. I hated the husband parts Icel they had my eye twitching even tho he wasn’t exactly bad to her but idk he felt so off to me. 

Ze was so cuteeeeee 💗💋 my murderous little care bear xx

When he has a praise kink 😝🤭 ksjshdksk he was litch adorable, she got him blushing and preening after he got those brownie points for being “nice” like stopppp u can’t make me giggle so much it’s criminal! 😫🤚

That ending tho 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 wasn’t expecting that plot twist 🤧 prayin there’s some proper reason for it lmao bc if not he’s got some real heavy grovelling to do 😭

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you so much Veronica for the ARC! ♥︎

After having finished the book, I look at the cover and I can’t help but stop to just admire the delicate hints and every purposeful detail that went into the making of it. How subtle but also in ur face it is. It’s most definitely going to be one of my most cherished books. 

The writing: 

Seamless. There was a finesse and balance and weight to each word. So thoughtful, well placed. It read like water, soft and nurturing as a lake at times but also harsh and demanding as an ocean during a storm. And how I relished the extremes and everything in between. I’m genuinely so in awe over how beautiful the prose was.

The way every plot point unfolded was butter on a hot day, it felt natural but still had the effect of a bludgeon to the head. I found myself enjoying the story, not stressing about the ending but instead appreciating the journey.

The characters: 

Phenomenal. Unique, dynamic and so competent in the roles they play within the plot. 

The gargoyle. — Bartholomew. The apple of my eye. I just wanna put him in my pocket and protect him from the world 😫☹️☹️☹️☹️ him and his idioms against the world 💔💔💔

Six. The diviner. — Sybil Delling. My precious. My best girl. The way I wanna give her all the cuddles in the world 🥹❤️‍🩹 Her past and everything she’s done to survive made me wanna cry. Her growth was so rewarding. 

Rory — 🫦🫦🫦 that’s my man. I’m claiming him. The way he’s everything I never knew I needed. So gentle under that hard coarse exterior. Ugh I want him so badddd. Like he’s so perfectly my type it’s criminal 😫 no bc the way every word out of his mouth had me laughing or crying or screaming shutting the book banging my fist on the walls in agony over him being fictional 😔🤚 

The banter and verbal sparring had me eating out their hands. I was screaming with laughter, giggling and blushing and twirling my hair. Their humour was my humour, their love my life source. God, could this book get any better? Like I don’t think I’ll ever find anything as remotely compelling and loveable and still so haunting as this book.

The world building: 

The Stonewater Kingdom was so hauntingly gothic it sang to every cell in my body. The author didn’t shy from creating every manner of creature and giving them a backstory, making them more than just 2D plot devices. 

Overall:

I’ve not felt this compelled while reading a book in what feels like so long. I missed this so much I almost forgot what it felt like. 

My first Gillig novel was a SUCCESS and I’m so glad I have more of her to readddd — I’m so excited bc I’ve just found a new fav author 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:

(I did predict the major plot twist hehe — yes I’m pretty chuffed about it even tho it seemed pretty obvious but idccc I’m taking my wins and cheering) 

𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧

Nomyn & Veela - Bloom

Imaginary - Evanescence

AURORA - To Be Alright 

My last breath - Evanescence

Tamino - The First Disciple

AURORA - The Flood 

Tamino - Indigo Night

Orlando Kallen - Lone Wolf 

AURORA - Your Blood

AURORA - The Secret Garden

Flyleaf - All Around Me 

Sacrifice - London After Midnight

𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:

‘I raised the remains of my idleweed. Shot smoke out of my mouth at the sky.

Rory itched his nose with his middle finger.’

King Castor's finger, slightly wobbly, pointed once more. "The pretty one."

Rory's eyes flitted to me. But the King's finger, the knighthood's collective gaze, was trained on Four.

"Just as well. Sometimes, Bartholomew; I think her quite the bitch.”

"Gargoyle!"

"I am simply saying what is on my heart. Who would? fault me for that?"

"No one's as strong as you, is that it, Diviner?"

"Put you on your back at Coulson Faire easy enough, didn't I?" That got a smile out of him. A moment later I was in the air, slung over his shoulder like a dead deer. I swore and he chuckled, glass crunching beneath his boots as he moved through the room.

"Threw you on that bed easy enough, too," he murmured.

"Which one, Diviner?" Rory's voice was deathly calm. He looked over his shoulder at me. "Which one marked up your face?"

The gargoyle batted his eyes. "Oh, Bartholomew. He's dreamy."

I pulled myself upright. Reached for his cheek-dragged the corner of his mouth up with my thumb until he wore an absurd half smile. "That's better. Still foul and unknightly, though."

"Just the way you like me." Rory nipped the pad of my thumb.

"So if I were to throw it rough side up, let's say, at your head—"

"You'd be picking the pieces of my brain off Benji's cloak."

"Not much of a mess, then."

Errant knight Rodrick Myndacious, prideful, disdainful, god-less, believed in me.

"An entire branch of idleweed?" I quipped.

"Little sounds?" came his slow, mirthful reply. 

He said it intently. Like he was imploring every part of me to take heed. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, Sybil Delling."

Rory held me tightly, grasping the nape of my neck with one hand while the other drifted down my spine in a long, deroted caress.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀:

Anathema by Keri lake (in the sense that they’re both gothic and have really well crafted worlds and characters) 

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The author said the mmc reminds her of tamino and the way I rannnn to buy this 🤚

It was funny, fast paced and an amazing time! 

The fmc was genuinely HILARIOUS. Like I would find myself pinching my nose in an attempt to not laugh so loud i wake my family up while I’m sat reading this at 2am 😭🤚 I loved her so much. Her vulnerabilities and character spoke to me. 

The mmc is where it kinda felt a bit off for me. I enjoyed his character in the present but it was the shit he did in the past that made me feel torn. I’m a big lover of character development but it didn’t feel like I was A PART of that development with him which made me feel a little detached from him. It didn’t give me that same sense of confidence or stability in his character. I mean I can see that he’s sorted himself out with a therapist and everything but I wish we got more detail about what he did in those years he was struggling to get better. 

This isn’t to say I don’t like him. He was a decent mmc I just didn’t love him unfortunately. 

(Also they spoke too much during sex and it felt like pulling teeth — the dirty talk was painful to say the least ) 

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Headline Eternal for the ARC! ♥︎

It took me 2hrs post finishing this book to even realise I’ve not ate anything the whole day bc of this book 😭 the moment i picked the book up today till I flipped that final page I didn’t stop to eat drink I didn’t come up for air not even for any guests that came, this book was the very definition of consuming. It became my life force and now that it’s over I actually feel destitute, idk what to do with myself 😫

I laughed, I cried — shoulders shaking, tremors racking my entire bruised and battered body from every blow, nose stinging, swollen red eyes, ugly fat tears running down my face wetting the pages of my book. God. My heart bled for Joey. I loved him since book one, was as good as gone for him the second he spoke. 

I have so many words, so many feelings for this book. It was by far my favourite in the series. Joey is by far one of the most complex and compelling mmc’s I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about. The shit he’s been thru and the way he handled everything to the way he.. *I’ve started tearing up omg… and now I’m crying those fat tears again with my chin wobbling and eyes stinging — the whole works* he makes me emotional like no other. Genuinely, this is a first for me, I just think about him and I tear up because I remember everything he’s been put thru how he felt during it all and just… he deserved so much better, so so much better. 

There’s this inexplicable feeling i get where whenever Joey is out of the picture or not in the scene I’m always tense with the thought that anything could go wrong but as soon as he enters or speaks the tightness eases and I feel like everything will be okay, he will take care of everything. Joey makes me feel safe. He just has that presence and it makes me cry because of all the reasons he’s had to be this way, of what it took from him to turn out the way he has, to be the protector… and I’m crying again. 

The last two parts were so healing but really valuable to me. The way Aoife’s worries and complexes around the baby weren’t neglected or sidelined for Joeys struggles. As Aoife would say, they’re mirrors and everything they are is because of each other and for each other. Their love was all encompassing and raw but the best thing about their relationship was their foundation being friendship and loyalty and trust. I would absolutely MELT when he would refer to her as “my best friend” even after they got together. Like it’s such a small thing but it wasn’t to me — it was everything as someone who isn’t a big fan of friends to lovers THIS is how it’s done right. 

I’m so proud of him and his growth, seeing Aoife grow to not only put her baby first but also place those boundaries it was so rewarding even if it was painful as hell to swallow. As much as this book broke me, it also pieced me back together with gold and I’m better for it. I don’t think I’ll ever get over Joey the hurler and I never want to. 


𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Not me crying the entire time writing this review 😭 no bc I’ve got fresh tear stains on my face I’m a mess just thinking about him. 

A huge huge thankuuuu to my support angels Hoda and Clace for listening to my tearful rants and appropriately gaslighting me when I asked for the lies I needed to hear to keep me going 😭 u were right it was full to the brim with so much happiness I couldn’t take it !!!!!! (I can’t wait to return the favour when u guys read addicted Calloway series 😝👹)

𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧
Need a break — jann 
Family line — Conan gray
Promise — jann
Remains of us — amira elfeky
Can’t break me — lemarvin
Bonnie & Clyde — Beyoncé & Jay Z 
Get by — jayci 
Boy who’s so blue — Brooke Williams 
Hell or high water — Andrew raposo
Lookin at u — ciara 
Like I love you — Justin timberlake
Old wounds — pvris


𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:

“Hey, queen”
“Hey, stud”

“Nice shirt”
“Nice legs”

“I just wanted a burger”
~THE WAY THIS HAD ME PEALING WITH UNCONTROLLABLE CACKLES

It started off really good. The first half had me gripped and I was loving the direction of the story until it shifted and it felt like it dragged. 

The characters were genuinely complimentary. Perfectly made for each other lmao. The chemistry and tension was sooo good the first half like damn it had me biting my knuckles with anticipation. 

Them getting together so quickly wasn’t the problem for me because I’m usually not bothered about if it’s insta lust or slow burn, I enjoy both. My problem i think was with the proportions of smut that left little room for the plot and emotional development. It felt a little tired and their primal kink lost its shine after the first six times. 

I was expecting a spicy good time not a smutty good time so if ur going in without knowing much then i hope this appropriately adjusts those expectations for u. 

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Evermore for the ARC! ♥︎

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

I got the arc omg! I wasn’t expecting to be accepted but I’m litch so happyyyyy!! I’ve read the authors other book and loved it so I can’t wait to see how this one turns out 🤭💗

I binged the fuck outta this. The mmc was perfffff. It was hot. It was perfectly spicy but also really sweet. The progression of the romance was done really well! 

My only complaint is the third act, it really put a damper on the mood towards the ending but other than that this was a solid read.

This book was so cute and was exactly what I was looking for to get me out of my slump. A really healthy romance which was perfectly paced I loved it!