Dnf (but I got way more than half way through and I'm not sure if I should be proud or disappointed by that). For a book for adults, the characters suDnf (but I got way more than half way through and I'm not sure if I should be proud or disappointed by that). For a book for adults, the characters sure do read like teenagers, and I think it almost drove me insane. I didn't like a single one of them and they felt very immature...I couldn't go on....more
For a book centered around the relationship of two women, the chemistry in said relationship felt...nonexistent? I liked the idea here, and Hart makesFor a book centered around the relationship of two women, the chemistry in said relationship felt...nonexistent? I liked the idea here, and Hart makes an interesting choice when it comes to not naming one of the women, which honestly I liked. It made the obsession feel more "obsessive" rather than "romantic" which seemed to be the goal. But that was about where the strong stylistic choices on behalf of Hart ended for me, because otherwise, the characters lacked the depth they needed to feel legitimate and realistic. Not a horrible book, but not a great one, and I wouldn't recommend it to many people. I wouldn't not recommend it, though. Gah. I don't know. Just didn't like as much as I hoped....more
Well, I've attempted it, and that's what matters I guess. As a lover of scifi and political intrigue, I went into this book more than ready to be blowWell, I've attempted it, and that's what matters I guess. As a lover of scifi and political intrigue, I went into this book more than ready to be blown away but as with literature, you cannot always expect your wishes to be granted. This felt like an info-dump fest with waaaay too much repetition (a little is fine, but I think 100 pages could be cut and we'd still have the same information) which made the book even more intimidating than it had been when I started. I finished it, which earns the book more than 1 star, but did I enjoy it? Sadly, not this time around. This may be the kind of book I can return to in a year with a different headspace and find more joy in. Who knows? Maybe I'll try it. But this time around, I didn't pile drive through it the way I do other chonky high fantascis....more
Well this book had the steam, I'll give it that. As for the plot...that got lost along the way, if it ever existed to begin with. Ya'll already know IWell this book had the steam, I'll give it that. As for the plot...that got lost along the way, if it ever existed to begin with. Ya'll already know I LOVE e-to-l and goddamn the knife play got hotttt but it wouldve been real nice to see all this steam as a supplement to the plot. Alas, there was none....more
I like to read multiple books at once but it gets hard to focus on both equally when one of those books doesn't interest me in the slightest (spoiler,I like to read multiple books at once but it gets hard to focus on both equally when one of those books doesn't interest me in the slightest (spoiler, it was this one). It's not that the writing is bad, or even bland, but that the characters (*cough, Lily*) were. And the ending felt like it fizzled out rather than ending with anything that would've kept my interest....more
K, buckle up friends. Because I am TORN with a capital T with this book. On one hand, I can see why it won GR choice awards. It's well-written, the plK, buckle up friends. Because I am TORN with a capital T with this book. On one hand, I can see why it won GR choice awards. It's well-written, the plot keeps you in its grip, the MC is unique and so is the rest of the cast...and yet there was a lot I didn't enjoy. Now, reading it subjective, ain't it? The hardest books for me to rate are the ones where I LOVE the writing, the ideas, the characters, but there's just that little kernel of *something* that didn't sit right with me. When I reflected, it is because this book is absolutely covered in social commentary - subtle and not so subtle - and while I'm a-okay (hey - MORE than a-okay) reading a book with that kind of commentary, some of it felt forced, like it was put in the book just for the sake of it. Almost...random? And I'm with a lot of other reviewers when I say I am torn (again) about the lack of labeling for Molly. Can a character be awkward and quirky(TM) without being neurodivergent? Yes, totes. But when there is a slew of other very real-world things being discussed, included, and going on, it feels a little...strange...not to include some great rep in a way that makes sense and would add to the story. Was the author shying away from it while shining the light on hosts of other things? I don't know. That's why I'm very on the fence with this book. I think it's a nice rainy day read, but parts didn't sit well with me. Nowhere near a 1 star rating, but it was just okay. 2 stars. Not bad (not horrible). But I'm too torn to say it was good....more
I love Medusa. I love everything about Medusa. She is my fiction gf and nobody can contest this. That all said I really wanted to love this book. It'sI love Medusa. I love everything about Medusa. She is my fiction gf and nobody can contest this. That all said I really wanted to love this book. It's a story of female pain and suffering with real nods to our world. But this subject matter was handled almost childishly, and I felt disconnected from Medusa's character. I'm clearly in the minority of readers who didn't love this book, but I just felt it could've been done more emotionally and with less *fluff*...more
I've finally done it. I've finally read ACOSF! Since it was released I was doing my best to keep my eyes off all the buzz, though when it comes to thiI've finally done it. I've finally read ACOSF! Since it was released I was doing my best to keep my eyes off all the buzz, though when it comes to this series, that's hard to do. I did enjoy most of this book. Maas is an author who excels that building up her characters and world, sometimes for chapters at a time, which can make plot pacing seem choppy here and there (though nothing I mind too much, as I do appreciate a strong world with a strong system - be that magic, political, or otherwise - when reading). My gripes have to do with how QUICKLY the book ended...and fell flat. We are given hundreds of pages of in-depth character interactions and Nesta grows beautifully...only to have the bloody end be concluded with a 'sacrifice' I didn't totally love. Nesta had progressed into such a strong woman...only to give away all her powers (but plot twist! Your super powerful warrior girl changed her anatomy so she can have a baby.)
When I read that part, despite all I had really enjoyed about ACOSF, this was my face (I'm not kidding):
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Not only can I just *NOT* see Nesta as a mother (Aunt Nesta is something I can see...but a mother? No.), but it also widdles her character down into the same, tired trope of "all women, regardless of personality, inevitably want to be mothers." Never mind the fact that it is totally inconsistent with her character. And yes, I know she did this to save Feyre, but you're telling me Maas could think of NO other way for Nesta to ~redeem~ herself + save her sister without wholly giving up the power she'd just learned to wield? For Christ's sake!
Honestly, had the ending not been what it was, this book would have been a 3 or 4 stars - not perfect, maybe, but strong enough and enjoyable. But that ending...boy, oh boy, did it leave a bad taste in my mouth.
I get that I am in a minority of reviewers here, and hey, I love Nessian just as much as the next! But in my [sometimes not-so-humble], yet completely SUBJECTIVE opinion (isn't that what all book reviews are, the good and the bad?), the ending tarnished a character I had grown to love....more
Unpopular review here. I know, I know. Don't come at me. While Moreno-Garcia weaves a really eerie, beautiful and fantastical setting in this book witUnpopular review here. I know, I know. Don't come at me. While Moreno-Garcia weaves a really eerie, beautiful and fantastical setting in this book with a well written plot, the book as a whole failed to keep me invested. I did like the characters, but the pacing and overall feel of the book just didn't keep me tied in. I'm P-R-A-Y-I-N-G that I haven't fallen into another reading slump, dear God. I just felt my attention flitting elsewhere whilst reading this one....more
I've read books by Roberts that I've loved, but this one didn't do it for me. It's not a bad book, per se, but it was very drawn out and the characterI've read books by Roberts that I've loved, but this one didn't do it for me. It's not a bad book, per se, but it was very drawn out and the characters didn't make a lasting impression. Booth didn't feel like a hero, La Porte didn't feel like a villain, and the stakes got messy in the process. ...more
Unpopular review incoming: I didn't LOVE this book. I didn't *hate* it. I liked the magic, sister bonds, and characters, but it left me wanting so mucUnpopular review incoming: I didn't LOVE this book. I didn't *hate* it. I liked the magic, sister bonds, and characters, but it left me wanting so much more. More development, better relationships, and all of that would have led to a great plot. Potential + lack of strong execution is always a bummer. So while I didn't think this book was all bad, it wasn't my favorite by any means. ...more
This is probably in the minority of harsh reviews even though this books reception is mixed. But I dnf around halfway. The plot felt very predictable This is probably in the minority of harsh reviews even though this books reception is mixed. But I dnf around halfway. The plot felt very predictable and verging on silly, and I could not connect with the characters, which of course made the shifts feel rocky. Just not for me. ...more
I will go on an unpopular rant here: what had potential otherwise failed to deliver as a rather Mary Sue protagonist (Jani) falls in love with an equaI will go on an unpopular rant here: what had potential otherwise failed to deliver as a rather Mary Sue protagonist (Jani) falls in love with an equally as bland partner. Im in the minority of reviewers clearly, but I just couldn't find myself that attached to any of the characters or their plights. That said, the book had scenes I enjoyed and bursted with potential in other ways, but characterization is a soft spot for me, and when characters don't stand out or feel otherwise one-dimensional, the plot fades away and I'm left with....well, boredom. So would I give Taylor's Hotel Magnifique one star? Not quite, because it wasn't all bad. But it wasn't a solid 3 either, so I'm left in the middle. A little bland, a little one-dimensional, a little potential, and a whole lotta "meh." ...more
I love this cover, but the story felt like it lacked more than it gave. I liked the mc, but so many of her relationships that bursted with potential fI love this cover, but the story felt like it lacked more than it gave. I liked the mc, but so many of her relationships that bursted with potential felt underdeveloped and flat. Despite some perks to the story (and the fact that its about women vampires...I mean...c'mon, what's not to love), the execution fell a little short. Not horrible by any means, but I was left wanting more....more
The great beginning made the rest of the book feel like a slap in the face. An underdeveloped, at times uninteresting slap in the face. But because ofThe great beginning made the rest of the book feel like a slap in the face. An underdeveloped, at times uninteresting slap in the face. But because of the good beginning and the sheer potential that this book exuded, I'll give it 2 stars. ...more
Sometimes I will pick up a book because of the cover alone, and that's what I did with this one. Because no matter what ya say, it has a GREAT cover. Sometimes I will pick up a book because of the cover alone, and that's what I did with this one. Because no matter what ya say, it has a GREAT cover. The story however...not so much. I'm all for slow-burns, but this one lacked the burn and had waaaay too much of the slow! It dragged on to the point where I felt impatient to get on with it, but then lost my interest and dnf around halfway through. With more tension, maybe this book would've hooked me, but it just felt bland, and for that, my reading experience went a lot like this:
Welp, I finally read it. The book everyone seems to be raving about with glowing reviews and a beaut of a cover. Aaaaaaand I'm disappointed. The writiWelp, I finally read it. The book everyone seems to be raving about with glowing reviews and a beaut of a cover. Aaaaaaand I'm disappointed. The writing is strong, but the characters and the plot aren't, and you need all those things for a strong novel in my opinion. This felt predictable to the point where I was just waiting for my suspicions to be confirmed, and spoiler alert, they were. Not a *bad* book, the writing is notable, but the execution was just...meh....more
Siiiiiiiggggh. I'm on the lower end of ratings for this one, and maybe its because I consider myself such a lover of characters that when I don't feelSiiiiiiiggggh. I'm on the lower end of ratings for this one, and maybe its because I consider myself such a lover of characters that when I don't feel the connection to them, I just can't get through the read. I see some potential, but the characters all fell flat and picking up the book became more of a chore rather than something I looked forward to. Sooo, dnf around the halfway mark. Sadly, not for me....more
Maybe an unpopular review because a lot of people loved this book, but it fell a little short for me in character execution especially. The plot? WellMaybe an unpopular review because a lot of people loved this book, but it fell a little short for me in character execution especially. The plot? Well, the idea is super spooky and cool and it gives a PLL/Gossip Girl type feel (more PLL because, y'know, the murders...) but I didn't *love* Izzy and while the main character doesn't have to be all that for me, at least having other characters make up for it is nice...but...close but no cigar for this one. Eh, not a bad book, though not one I was particularly thrilled about. ...more