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632 reviews by:
takarakeireads
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
- Noir
- Sapphic romance
- Chicago speakeasies
- Photography
- Magical realism
- Novella
- great audio narration
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Phoebe’s true best form of comedy is the written word. Honestly if you just want to read/listen to someone talk about how absurd life is with levity. If you’re a woman in your 30s and especially a POC woman, you gotta give it a try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Racism
Moderate: Misogyny, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality
Minor: Body shaming, Mental illness, Cultural appropriation
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a super cute and cozy ya debut from one of my fav romance authors. Talia was able to write really interesting main characters in such a short novel.
- Ex best friends
- Enemies/academic rivals to friends to lovers
- Dual pov
- The wittiest snarkiest banter
- They annoy each other into love
- British
- Black teen joy
- Great mental health rep
I do think that because it’s a very character driven book that the two POVs were sometimes hard to distinguish, because they didn't break between chapters and both characters had similar inner dialogues. On audiobook this is obv not be a problem and I would reread this on audiobook!
1/5 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cursing, Alcohol
Brad has OCD.
Celine’s father abandoned her & her family.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't particularly care for the actual plotline of the book, the whole Alex seeking revenge stuff. So for that reason I was just here for the smut which was pretty good
5/5 🌶️
5/5 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Gaslighting
Minor: Child death, Sexual violence
MC Anna is dealing with a phobia (water) based on childhood trauma. Both characters are dealing with very intense childhood trauma. derogatory sexual language,
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- 1st in a duology (second book out in Nov)
- Monsters of all kinds (and amazing illustrations!)
- Deadly competition/trials
- Creepy and mysterious
- School setting
- Glimmers of a romance (Ex best friends)
- Outcast girl who suddenly becomes popular
- 'Slacker' boy that everyone crushes on but he only cares about working on his motorcycle
- Yes they ride the motorcycle
The audiobook for this was fantastic, really enjoyed the narration! This gave me a bit of Scholomance vibes, even though they are VERY different series (and Scholomance is way better imo). Just similar in terms of the youth being in this insane situation (trials/being a hunter) that they might die in and have to like save everyone (aka the adults). It's a very quick read, but I also wasn't completely in love with the story and felt like things were just starting to get good when it ended. Feels a bit like it was written as one long book that got split into a duology instead of getting a good edit and remaining one longer or standard length fantasy book.
0/5 🌶️, but I think it will get somewhere (it is YA) in book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- Warring mafia/mob families
- Political intrigue to the max
- Kung fu/martial arts inspired
- Complex lovable characters
- Multiple POV
I struggled in parts of this book because of the amount of political intrigue related to the clans/families was a lot and I'm not really interested in mafias in general. But those parts were also the typical sorts of things I figure you'd find in books about a mob family and being used as a kind of structure/base (I haven't read any others, so I personally don't have anything to compare it to besides The Sopranos). However the things that make this book unique, mainly the jade and THE CHARACTERS which are all so complex and interesting, were thoroughly enjoyable. I found myself towards the end really getting invested because I loved these characters so much.
Since this is the first book in a series it did feel like it was a lot of set up for the subsequent books, but I am interested to keep reading and see where things go from here.
Also I drew a lot of parallels between this book and The Poppy War, even though they are VERY different series. But interestingly the first books were published a year apart, so I wonder if Fonda Lee and R.F. Kuang have any similar influences.
3/5 🌶️ (there is explicit sex but it’s very sporadic)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, War
Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Dementia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Colonisation
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Is this book good? Objectively no.
Is the writing good? Absolutely not.
Did I have a good time? An unhinged one, yes.
Will I be continuing the series? Yes for the absurdity factor alone.
I listened to the audiobook. It reads like an early 2000-2010s YA high school vampire series even though its from 2022??? The parallels to Twilight are stark and literally mentioned?! Nothing makes sense. There is no plot. It's insta-lovey in all the worst/best ways. The dialogue is cringe worthy. If you are here for a trashy good time then sure, it's maybe for you.
1.5/5 🌶️
Is the writing good? Absolutely not.
Did I have a good time? An unhinged one, yes.
Will I be continuing the series? Yes for the absurdity factor alone.
I listened to the audiobook. It reads like an early 2000-2010s YA high school vampire series even though its from 2022??? The parallels to Twilight are stark and literally mentioned?! Nothing makes sense. There is no plot. It's insta-lovey in all the worst/best ways. The dialogue is cringe worthy. If you are here for a trashy good time then sure, it's maybe for you.
1.5/5 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Car accident, Murder
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I did the audiobook + physical combo (listened to the first few chapters solely on audiobook, which is well done!).
- 1st in a duology (book two out August 2023)
- Italian inspired fantasy
- Touch her and you die trope (like actually)
- Bodyguard trope
- FUNNY, witty banter
- Found Family
- If your love language is hugs... this is it!
- Made me want to eat all the lemon things
3/5 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love Sel forever. He is my personal fav book boyfriend. I could not handle the ending. Words honestly cannot describe my feelings. Go read it now, I can't believe I waited this long to read it. I will be reading the next one immediately when it comes out.
Seriously though this book is even better than the first one in a lot of ways. The intricacy and uniqueness of the story is top shelf. This is even despite my one criticism which is the complexity of the Order, the amount of positions and characters are difficult to keep track of. I had to make lots of notes and even though the plot of the first book is recapped well I still struggled with how the characters fit into this hierarchy. Really this could be solved by adding a character list, or adding the names of people to the charts that are already provided.
I discussed with a friend also that I love love triangles when all parties have so much mutual respect for each other and there is little animosity between them. I have been team Sel from the beginning, but I liked Nick a lot more in this book because of the aforementioned respect he has for both Bree and Sel as people.
Bree is a freaking goddess. I love her as a MC so much and this is why the ending is so devastating because I fear she is going to a dark place. BUT I was absolutely feral for the 'lesson' learned at the end of this book which is that Bree can choose and accept her own power on her own terms. She doesn't need the assistance of her ancestors, but only to believe in herself.
1/5 🌶️ (the tension tho? 5/5)
Seriously though this book is even better than the first one in a lot of ways. The intricacy and uniqueness of the story is top shelf. This is even despite my one criticism which is the complexity of the Order, the amount of positions and characters are difficult to keep track of. I had to make lots of notes and even though the plot of the first book is recapped well I still struggled with how the characters fit into this hierarchy. Really this could be solved by adding a character list, or adding the names of people to the charts that are already provided.
I discussed with a friend also that I love love triangles when all parties have so much mutual respect for each other and there is little animosity between them. I have been team Sel from the beginning, but I liked Nick a lot more in this book because of the aforementioned respect he has for both Bree and Sel as people.
Bree is a freaking goddess. I love her as a MC so much and this is why
1/5 🌶️ (the tension tho? 5/5)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gore, Rape, Slavery
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A girl from a sleepy bayou town stumbles upon a demon while walking home one night drunk from festivities and saves him from a rockslide. Adventure to defeat a witch controlling her town, and sexy shenanigans ensue.
4/5 🌶️
4/5 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, Slavery
animal death:hunting animals for food, killing a dog 'beast'