savage_book_review's Reviews (328)

Something about the blurb of this book clearly appealed to me, because on two separate occasions I've picked it up 'oh a whim' - firstly (I assume) as part of a SYK day, and second from the Audible Plus catalogue! I ended up hitting the audiobook first; while it's not bad, the story didn't really 'do' anything for me.

I do like the fact that the first few chapters of the book do feel like the start of the horror stories out main character, Lydia, so enjoys. It's not jump-scary or particularly graphic (if it was, I wouldn't be reading it), but it has that creepy vibe. But then it takes a sharp turn into fantasy land later on, and while the horror vibe remains, it's not as prevalent or effective. I feel like this could have been quite a good dark fantasy book, but it's missing the depth of either the darkness or the fantasy genres.

Lydia is certainly interesting, but there are a few contradictions in her character that made me a bit confused about her. For example, she's clearly got medical training, but decides to do a bit of home surgery without even an attempt at some kind of local anaesthetic?! Nope, we'll just slice our skin open while fully cognisant - that'll go well! I'm not sure how to describe it, but she also may as well have a big pointy arrow over her head with 'I AM THE MAIN CHARACTER' in neon lights. Of course the main character should be the focus of the story, that's the point, but I got the sense that the secondary characters were all just there as filler to populate the world - for much of the book, there's no real reason or explanation for why Lydia is being sought out over any other person.

That being said, I do like Nick and am definitely interested to know what his destiny is! He's a good mix of comic relief, wise-ass best friend, protector and damsel in distress, and for the majority of the time acts as a good foil for Lydia. Their friendship is probably the thing I believed in most in the book. 

There are moments when you think you know what's going to happen, and that I am guessing will follow the romantasy template as the series progresses. But there is precisely zero payoff in this book. Although there is a good amount of action in the first half, the pacing of the story arc is so slow - you don't get any kind of explanation as to what's happening and why until at least the half way mark, and even then it doesn't really give you that confidence in understanding. And the ending of the book feels more like the end of the first act in a play - you expect maybe a brief intermission, then to retake your seat and for the story to carry on. But in this case you have to come back on a whole other day to see part 2. The worldbuilding is there, but there's just not enough of it to paint that vivid picture in your mind. 

I may come back and finish the series one day, but I have so many other books screaming at me that need to be read RIGHT NOW. And unfortunately, I'm just not invested enough to shift my TBR list around to accommodate the next books at this time.

I'm not even sure where to begin with this review, but I get the love for this series now. This book gave me everything I was missing from book one, and while I cannot say that it speaks to my soul in the same way as ACOTAR, I feel like this book is going to be the lynchpin of the series for me. 

First and foremost, yup, I'm on board with Luther now! His character development is gorgeously done, keeping you guessing while equally giving you reassurance that, under the bravado and the mask of the Prince, he is exactly who you're hoping he'll be. From the fairly generic shadow daddy of book one to this, the writer has really upped her game to make him one of the swoonworthy MMCs currently filling the shelves. And oh, my goodness, the sweet torture of the slowest of burns! The writing is teasing, tense and tantalising, and while one part of me just wants to yell at the characters to jump eachother's bones already, the other part is revelling in the UST, the overprotective brooding and the silent yearning... so good!

I also adore each member of the found family. This small band of people are all so well drawn, I believe wholeheartedly in every last one. I could perhaps have done with a little more resistance to the change in order, but it's so enjoyable and sweet that it's only a little something in the back of my mind. But each of them bring something to the table that gives the whole premise a nice balance. Likewise, those characters who oppose the new order are equally brilliant - you are right there with Diem trying to work out who you can trust, and it's very easy to fervently despise those who get on her bad side. 

I think the only character I struggled with was Henri. I can understand his feelings of loss, confusion and anger, but I'm not convinced by Diem and Henri's mixed feelings for eachother, nor their struggle to cut ties or become closer. And Diem's continuance of clinging to their relationship, even after he has shown her repeatedly the type of man he can be, just doesn't quite fit for me with the rest of her personality.

There are some big old emotional moments in this book that are so well written and conjure some incredible images in the mind. The set pieces are all so vivid, it really is like watching a movie inside your head. Likewise, some of the smaller heart-to-hearts or other little touches also shine thorough, making the whole feel layered and so effective. And that ending! So many questions, but so good!

Like with 'Catching Fire', I like book 2 more than book 1 because I'm familiar with the characters and the setting, and so the worldbuilding from scratch is no longer required. However, in this book it just keeps building, with more details about the various other realms, the history of Lumnos and the workings of Descended society playing very important roles. It is a lot to take in and it did make my head spin a little, but it does help that you're learning a lot of this information alongside the main character, so it feels less if an info-dump and more like you finding your feet with her.

I have downloaded the bonus chapter and will be reading that shortly, and then it's onto book 3! I'm prepared for a painful cliffhanger and a cry of 'but when's book 4 coming?!'. Here's hoping there might be news of that from the author's mouth at RARE in July!

This book has been on my WTR list for a while. But the universe clearly wanted me to read it sooner rather than later. I've been lent the physical copy; I'm finally catching up with the Fantasy Fangirls podcast, whose next deep dive is into this series; and the author is going to be attending #RARE25London. And while I'm not obsessing yet, it does seem like a real possibility if the next books in the series are as good as people say...

The premise of this book at the outset felt very familiar (definitely akin to 'Quicksilver') and as such it was easy to slip into the world and Diem's character. Although I'm not sure I connected as well to Diem as the author might hope, I still found her an interesting, nuanced personality and felt her conflicting emotions and beliefs were really well illustrated. I really enjoyed her snarky attitude and her ability to get into conflicts and then own those who dare try to lay hands, whether in her or others; again, while a lot of these character traits are shared widely across FMCs within the genre, the author has managed to give Diem that spark of life that keeps her unique and memorable.

There is a nice variance of pace throughout the book, with a flow that gives you a big, heartstopping moment followed by a little bit of time to decompress and possibly even have a laugh. And while the plot is relatively predictable, by now this die hard romantasy fan is well aware that it's not necessarily about the plot itself, but the trip the author takes you on to hit all of those well-trodden paths. 

I am a bit concerned about my reaction to Luther though. He ticks all the right boxes (although, no wings), but right now I'm just a bit "eh" about him. I found him to be more of a stock character, with depth and development being severely lacking - kind of an 'insert your favourite shadow daddy here' deal. I am really hopeful that he gets more page time and consideration in the next books! Because I WANT to like him!

It's definitely a good book, but it also reminded me of the first book in the 'Black Magician's trilogy by Trudi Canavan, in that overall it felt like one long introduction. And while it certainly fulfilled its purpose, equally I don't necessarily believe it achieved the depth of worldbuilding that might have been expected. It just feels a bit hollow in places. There are a couple of info dumping moments that don't quite fit seamlessly within the narrative, and there are other elements that could do with expansion. 

But overall I remain intrigued by the series and will be reading the follow ups soon (sorry to all the other books on my TBR list that are screaming of attention right now!).

Listened to this to join in with twisted_sisters_bookclub on IG and to see if it lived up to the hype. While I was ecstatic to find out as the audiobook started that this features the same narrators as 'Lights Out', this did lead me into a false sense of security. And while I did enjoy it, I wouldn't say it's a book that I would pick up again.

As you would expect, the book is pretty much solely about the priest and the object of his forbidden desire, and the development in their relationship. Simple, but very effective. It really helps that the vast majority of the story is told from Father Bell's POV, so you really get inside his head and get to know his character intimately, which gives everything that bit of depth. It's a great illustration of his struggle between the call to temptation and his desire to do his God's work  and it's very easy to sympathise with him throughout.

On the other hand, while I could understand why he liked Poppy, I didn't much warm to her as a character. There were just a few too many things that didn't quite add up about her to me, and it felt like she may as well have just walked around with a big sign reading 'temptation personified'. I just didn't connect with her, and I guess it's as simple as not buying into their initial interaction from her side - I understand attending confession, but when it's your first one  who kn earth would choose to go into THAT MUCH DETAIL with a complete stranger? 

I think this is also the first time I've had the reaction "oh no, there's some plot with my 🌽!" The last hour and a half of the audiobook, suddenly there's a little bit of jeopardy getting in the way  of a HEA. Now, I like plot. Plot is good. But when the last 6 hours have been pretty much exclusively character and relationship driven, it was very much a bucket of cold water over proceedings. It just felt out of place, and not inkeeping with the personalities you've come to know. 

Unfortunately, I was also a bit underwhelmed by the narration. Don't get me wrong, I'd happily listen to Jacob Morgan read the phone book, but his range and expression sounded a bit flat in this one. He did the job where it counted, but there were large swathes where the energy felt lacking. And again with the dual narration that isn't! Elena Wolfe is credited, but makes an appearance for a total of 3 or 4 excerpts. The rest of the time, Jacob just lifts his voice. This, he does well - his change in tone is feminine enough to give life to Poppy, without being painful to listen to. It feels like a huge waste of an excellent talent on Elena's part!

I was also a bit surprised by the spice level. I had been expecting some smutty smut, but actually I wouldn't say it's any more 'out there' than a lot of other books. It's clearly not vanilla, but I think the shock value is supposed to come from the situation rather than the spice itself. But as I'm not a church goer, I'm essentially just seeing this as a 'normal' relationship (well, as close to normal as you can get in fiction) as I can't identify with why Father Bell wanting a relationship is a problem.

I won't necessarily be picking up the rest of this series any time soon, but if I find myself running out of other audiobooks, I may come back at some point.

I've been meaning to read this one for a while... and I keep eyeing the special edition that's on pre-order for #RARE25London. So my heart is now happy for two reasons! 😂 And despite my having as big a fear of needles as Talia, it's reading books like this that really make me want to suck it up and get a tattoo! 

This book is fast-paced, funny, sweet, sexy and slightly mad, but it makes for a wonderfully entertaining read! It's certainly not a book that lingers on the whys and wherefores of each moment, but for the most part it really doesn't need to; the story just pulls you along with it. As long as you are a reader who can just 'go with it', then you'll find this a riot! 

Our MMC, Zayn, is everything you want in a fantasy man (except he doesn't have wings), and it was very, very easy to get the attraction even before you meet him properly. He's got the perfect balance of tortured soul, overprotective alphahole and light and fluffy going on, and there are moments when his internal conflict pours off the page. And I think I may have a new  favourite fictional bird... Biscuit is SO CUTE! His origin makes him precious, his personality can't help but make you smile, and his actions are just beautifully done.

While I do like Talia as an FMC, I didn't quite warm to her as much. The fact that she is almost constantly screaming, or trying not to scream, did make her feel a little bit like an early days Doctor Who companion - make shrill noises until the hero comes to rescue me. There are certain elements that also make make her come across as a bit immature. Now, I will readily admit that it's nice to get a younger FMC who has some different personality traits in a fantasy book, but at the same time she's missing that grit that carries others from their humble origins to positions of power. I hope to see more character developed for her in the rest of the series to really make her shine.

This books lays the foundations of worldbuilding quite well, but it strikes a bit of an odd balance of there being almost too much information about some elements, with others lacking detail. I think after a few reads and a proper study up of the table provided at the back of the Kindle edition I would understand the magic system better, but for a casual reader the descriptions within the narrative send you a bit cross-eyed. And yet, I found myself wanting more information and grounding when in the fae world, as there just wasn't enough for me. Again, I'm hoping this get built upon a bit more during the rest of the series. In places, it's just a little bit too busy with different creatures, rules and lore to pick up on immediately. 

I do love the premise, and as it is such an easy read I'll have no problem coming back to this one to pick up again in future.

The latest book for my office book club, and I suspect I'm going to be the outlier on this. The people I've spoken too at work all love this book. I... don't. It's not bad by any stretch, it's just not me. 

I found the premise an interesting one, following the stories of a man, Ansel, on death row trying to come to terms with his imminent demise, alongside the story of his crimes told from the point of view of his mother, his sister-in-law and a childhood companion. The consideration of Ansel's character is such that you are constantly questioning whether you sympathise with him, or are appalled by his unfeeling and seemingly sociopathic tendencies, which makes for uncomfortable and yet surprisingly enthralling reading. Each woman is also flawed in her own way  which adds a nice balance to things - overall it does a really good job at subverting the traditional 'good vs evil' subtext of a story like this.

However, I found the multi-POV narrative, that also jumps back and forwards in time, quite difficult to keep my bearings with. Generally, while I'd say the substance of the writing is beautifully done - the prose is almost poetic in places - I really struggled with some of the stylistic choices. We have changes in tenses, changes in perspective (third person vs second person), and grammatical shifts in things like using speech marks - the women's chapters do, Ansel's chapters don't. While I am sure the author could explain the reasons for this choice and an English teacher would salivate at the opportunity to break every element down for critical analysis, my 'passenger princess' reading style just found it all a bit too much. 

Similarly, there are big chunks of the text that feel like they went over my head, or I found difficult to grasp within the context of the chapter. There are some philosophical ideas thrown around in here too (indeed, Ansel's Theory is a running theme throughout the book) and I can sort of tie bits and pieces together, but mostly I just think my reading and the author's writing were never really going to work well together.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW, WITH A CAVEAT - For clarity, events from Haymitch's games that are mentioned in the original Hunger Games trilogy are fair game and may be mentioned herein. So look away now if you're late to the party and reading in chronological rather than release order!

We've seen the 'official' version of Haymitch's games through their abridged, edited, sanitised reel watched by Katniss and Peeta. We know what to expect from the Hunger Games generally, and some of the plot points from Haymitch's games, and so I thought I knew what to expect. Now I've seen behind the curtain and know the truth of the second Quarter Quell, all I can say is that I might have expected it to hurt like hell, but the reality is even more devastating. 

I firstly have to give props to Jefferson White for his narration. He manages to pitch every moment perfectly, emphasising without being overly-dramatic and giving us the deeply emotional resonance of every scene. He inhabits Haymitch throughout; the character was recognisable in the beginning as an 'innocent' version of the one we know and love, but just through the power of his voice you could hear his world-weariness and dissilusionment creep in as the story progresses. And it doesn't hurt that his voice is (at least to me) reminiscent of a younger Woody Harrelson! 

Suzanne Collins has done an amazing job here at bridging the gap between 'Songbirds and Snakes' and the original trilogy, giving us plenty of nods to events past and future which make for a great serotonin boost for a person who rereads this series on an annual basis. Although it could be argued that President Snow is the element that links all together (and his spectre still looms large on this book, though in a way that feels somewhat different to the other books), to me this book says that all roads lead to Haymitch. There's a beautiful sense of inevitability that underlays the narrative, but it doesn't feel contrived or forced. Everything just flows and, when a new element/character/plot point is introduced that builds on this feeling, it gives the reader a sense of familiarity, without giving it the vibes of 'oh, what a small world!'. Even the elements we do already know about - Katniss' Mockingjay pin once having belonged to Maisylee Donner, the Tenth Games being essentially wiped from history etc. - are all woven in and given so much more meaning and emphasis here, meaning you'll go back to the other books with a whole new perspective. 

It also giving a character that we've come to know and love a backstory that manages to give him character development that only enhances his actions, motives and outlook. Likewise, the story still manages to surprise, devastate and enthrall the reader, even with the outcome being something of a foregone conclusion. There is so much more to Haymitch's story and it's an absolute treat to get to read it. 

The Edgar Allen Poe poem 'Nevermore' plays a starring role throughout this book, and while it makes perfect sense for the story, I'm not entirely convinced that the repeated and extended quotations of it don't distract a little from the author's own work. I can imagine that if I were the 'right' age for this book, I'd probably be skimming over these. Actually, let's be honest, I'd probably still have skimmed over them now if I wasn't listening to it! While I think it's a great way to get kids learning about classic poetry etc., I'm just not sure that the wording isn't a bit too 'heavy' for a casual reader of YA. (And given that I've recently picked up the Nevermore Bookshop series by Steffanie Holmes, my imagination was going in a whole different direction! 🤣 IYKYK).

The other reservation I have about this book is that there are some threads I was hoping to see picked up which weren't. Or they were, but not in a 'satisfying' way. I feel like there's been enough left dangling for more books to come in the series, which I absolutely would not object to, but this story has a satisfying conclusion nonetheless. I guess I'm just frustrated by the fact that my single biggest query was dealt with in one brief line. And it would have been beautiful, poetic and even more tragic if the timeline had worked out to make an element of this book an unforeseen consequence of the last book. Gah, trying to say what I want to say without spoilers here is HARD!

I'm so glad Suzanne Collins saw fit to grace us with this! And here's to many more books in the future!

We return to 'Villain Academy' two years after the events of the previous books, this time following Cressida Warbury, the one-time tormentor turned ally of Rory Bloodstone. The story essentially starts with a 'bang' 😉, but then settles in to develop relationships between Cressida and the various people she interacts with. Her past trauma is explored (check your trigger warnings if needed) in a sensitive way, showing her acceptance and redirection of her feelings at her experiences into fighting back. Likewise, she acknowledges her own past mistakes, while probably beating herself up a bit too much about her perceived lack of a 'noble cause'. Her character is likeable and carries the story well, but I feel there is a depth to her we didn't quite get to see.

I enjoyed the contrast between Noah and Emeric as we get to know them through Cressida's eyes. They both have some stand-out moments that really make you connect with them in some way, with one moment of Emeric's in particular being utterly heart-wrenching. I was surprised by how strong my reaction to some of these moments were; for a book that was just being read to fill some time, it manages to pack quite a punch while still being relatively easy-going.

Although the first part of the story does feel a little pantomime-ish, essentially with minor league bad guys trying to do something, anything to prove themselves and get a leg up into the big leagues, there are some great twists and turns. The story arc works really well; it's not overly-complicated but it keeps you engaged, and it skips along at a good pace. The biggest criticism I have is that the resolutions long the way (and even the ultimate finale) come with very little fanfare and are somewhat anticlimactic, which makes the build up seem wasted.

As with the previous books in the series, I do feel this works better as one book. There are more 'natural' breaks in this one at the end of each instalment, but nevertheless the story does feel like it needs to be ingested in one go.

A quick and satisfying read!

A dark romance that has you crying with laughter and melting into your seat at the same time? Now, I'm pretty confident in saying my tastes don't run to st@lkers with a knife, fake blood and a mask kink, but this book almost has me convinced! There are plenty of dark themes and trigger warnings aplenty, but everything is served up with irreverence and a sh!t-eating grin. 

First thing's first. The dual narration of this audio version is just *chef's kiss* perfection. Elena and Jacob bring the characters of Aly and Josh to life immediately, and every emotion is just heightened by their performances. While I can imagine the book is funny enough to read, listening to them tease and taunt one another and bring the characters' inner monologues to life had me cackling! Likewise, the serious moments have you invested fully, and the spicy scenes... well damn 🥵🥵🥵. There might have been a couple of brief moments during the actual storytelling where they weren't 100% on point, but they're so brief that it really doesn't matter because they've built the characters up so well.

I like that Aly is a strong FMC, who's quite happy to stand up for herself, has a meaningful job and isn't afraid to explore her desires. She feels independent - like if the story hadn't happened she'd have been quite content with her life and her cat, with only the need for an occasional booty call and her favourite thirst trap videos to sate her desires. In short, I like that she doesn't NEED a man to 'complete' her. But, when and comes along she doesn't turn into a wilting flower and defer to him... no, she gives as good as she gets. The author has grounded this character and stays true to that vision throughout, and it's so good!

Likewise, the portrayal of Josh should be terrifying. Twisted childhood, enjoys hacking and watching Aly whetever she goes etc... he should make you feel uncomfortable from the outset. But he too has been given a personality above and beyond his circumstances, and I am here for ut!When the guy who dominates the bedroom refers to his girl's pussy cat (her pet, you heathens!) as their son, makes her bacon even though he's a vegan and generally acts like a complete cinnamon roll, he very quickly climbed the ranks of my book boyfriend list! 

There is an actual storyline in here too, although it is definitely secondary to the character and relationship development. Yes, I would have liked more depth to the plot as I think that could have given even more opportunity to cement the bond between Aly and Josh, but they alone carry the book so well that it doesn't really matter all that much! It does help that the plotline is entertaining too, in a slightly farcical way. 

While I've rated the book as extremely spicy and there definitely are some meltingly hot scenes, the rating is more reflective of the fact that the scenes are not 'vanilla'. Again, check your trigger warnings! And even when they're outside the bedroom, they (and by extension the reader) are constantly simmering with sexual desire and frustration. 

I genuinely loved this book, and I wasn't expecting that! And I'll definitely be buying and reading more from this author and series!

Although this is a prequel to 'The Hunger Games' trilogy, the central event remains the same and we are already familiar (to an extent) with the main character, to me this book has a very different feel. And while it is a very good introduction to how President Snow became the way he is in the main series and exploration of his character, it all feels very surface-level and leaves me wanting.

There is a big shift even in the fundamentals of the author's style in this book. In the original trilogy, I noted from my Kindle's progress bar that each of the books was essentially split into three equal parts, each serving the story in its own way. In comparison, this book does have three parts but they're unevenly spread, and the pacing suffers for it. The initial build up and the 10th Games seem quite slow going, and then the action in District 12 feels quite rushed with no real satisfying resolution and lots of threads left dangling.

The Games themselves are also something of a disappointment. While I can appreciate that this is still early in terms of the development of the Games in-world and so by necessity they are a stripped back version designed purely to exhibit the worst of human nature, to me that should almost draw you in more because of the simplicity and brutality. But there's very little that's actually memorable from either inside or outside the arena. I do like the experimental feel of things and seeing the bones of the Games that we're familiar with, and in some respects I can see that this style makes the reader more in tune with the Capitol citizen's way of thinking; that it's a piece of entertainment and not a horrendous waste of human life.

I do love Lucy Gray's character, I just wanted more of it! She's not quite as fleshed out as I would have liked and does feel more like a plot device rather than a meaningful character in places, but when she's bringing her sass and singing to the party she's great! I'm desperately hoping that the ambiguity of the ending may mean we get to see her again in 'Sunrise on the Reaping'... even if it's just as a cameo. But I just don't get the thought behind it, save that it mirrors the song.

Speaking of that ending... yeah, a reread hasn't improved it for me. I mean, yes it's obvious that the story needs to go in a certain direction to turn Snow into the piece of work he is as President, but that change of heart was so fast it just doesn't feel real. And it's extreme too - the absolute 180 in his intentions is beyond my comprehension. But, even if I can stretch my imagination enough to even begin to understand his motivation, I'm completely lost when it comes to Lucy's in these moments. It reads to me like she runs before he's made the switch, but why?! I just don't get it. The writing makes the whole scene a mixed up, rushed mess and then everything just moves on as if nothing has happened. Again, I get that this reflects Snow's perception of things and marks him as an absolute cold hearted unfeeling b***ard, but it leaves the reader cold and unfeeling too.

I did a simulcast of this and the movie, and that only added to my woes. I love the personification of Lucy Gray and the Covey as the Southern Belle and her family, but they may as well have asked Tom Felton to play Snow for all the Draco Malfoy-ness of his character.

I'm glad I've completed the reread in time for Sunrise on the Reaping next week, but I'll be glad to move onto something else in the meantime.