skittyrreads's Reviews (339)

Again I'd like to thank the author for the free book, insanely kind. I just cannot do the "he knew her while she was growing up" thing!

First I'd like to thank the author for giving me a free copy, incredibly kind! I'm just a bit icked out by the age gap 🫶

Not the "She said she was 12!" defence??? 😭😭😭

This was so dumb but man did I have a good time or what? Wasn't super into Nero but loved Payton, just a really genuinely sweet, kinda silly but surprisingly refreshing FMC. Their connection was decent and pretty funny at points. Standard romp in Dark Romance (this is that right?), definitely fun. Also King was so funny and for what? 

This was so sweet and funny and also heart renching at points?? Fun plot, adored every character, especially Vera. Julia's arc was so good and strong and I loved how Sana's relationship with her art was done. The "twist" actually really got to me, so sad. Very good ending. Also made me hungry.

I want to emphasise before I write this review- I am Scottish, and my copy of this book was published by Magpie, NOT Wednesday Books. I stand in firm solidarity with the SMP boycott and will not be publishing this review on Goodreads until St Martins Press acknowledge the racist remarks by their employee.

Dare I say I liked this more than the first book? Yes it's slow and yes it's light on actual plot til the second half but man that second half. Everything i've said about Roman and Iris still stands- love Attie and i'm so glad we got more of her. Enva and Dacre were SO interesting, particularly Enva, I'd take a whole novel about her tbh. I'm weirdly devastated about Forest and wish we'd gotten more of Iris's grief about him. Shit hurt so bad.

THIS WAS AWFUL! The sex was bad, Tana is a predator, Drys is the most annoying male "Door" to ever exist. What was with the feminist just shoved in? No actual sparks, just lust. Prime example of the "Born Sexy Yesterday" trope. YUCK.

This is the most mid YA fantasy I have ever read, let me go over my points in a list.

PROS
• The world and worlding building is fascinating, complex and layered. While we're told a lot a lot of the time I personally didn't mind because I did want to know more- I love the power system and how versatile it is.

• Genya is my fave, loved her, thought she was easily the most complex character here.

CONS
• All the other characters suck big time, Alina is nothing for half of the book, and then her personality is Mal for the other half. She's either complaining or unknowing, BORING! Hate Mal, wet sack of a character, blames Alina for the most random shit, literally has nothing going on, FLOP! And the Darkling needs to stay away from teenage girls, I did like his villainy however and thought his plan was particularly insidious, even if his goal of world domination or whatever is tropey.

• Plot moves so quickly yet nothing happens for like 40% of the book, and the reveal that the Darkling is evil comes very quickly and Alina just. Accepts it as fact when not even a paragraph ago she wanted him, it feels rushed and doesn't transition well into the second half of the book.

• We get it, if you're not Alina you suck. Get out of here with that.

• The prose itself is very easy to read but again almost nothing is actually interesting about it, whatever is easiest, it goes for.

Very peak 2010's YA fantasy, not that excited for Siege and Storm.

I want to emphasise before I write this review- I am Scottish, and my copy of this book was published by Magpie, NOT Wednesday Books. I stand in firm solidarity with the SMP boycott and will not be publishing this review on Goodreads until St Martins Press acknowledge the racist remarks by their employee.


This was fun! I really liked the light world building, the idea of God's being conquered physical things affecting the world is really interesting and it adds a lot of whimsey into the bones of the text. Loved Iris and Roman, thought their connection was great, do wish it had been a little slower but I like how willing Roman was to give up everything for her. Bare minimum imo (kidding). The typewriters got me, I love friendships and hope we get more. Adored Marisol and Attie, tell me why I teared up when they were in the B&B. Very sad at points and deeply romantic, this was very enjoyable. Also that ending was devastating my God.

Crazy ass ending to Phase 1 my God. Loved everything, so happy to have Tanith back! Plot was so good as always and Valkyrie's whole arc was so good. Cannot believe Sanguine is dead however, i'm so upset 😭😭