Fiona and Jane's stories are wonderful, but the connection and the development lacks. Maybe I went into this book wanting too much?Fiona and Jane's stories are wonderful, but the connection and the development lacks. Maybe I went into this book wanting too much?...more
1.5 stars* This book could have been great, but it feels rushed and messy in its execution. If another year or even a few more months were taken to tig1.5 stars* This book could have been great, but it feels rushed and messy in its execution. If another year or even a few more months were taken to tighten the plot, adequately develop the characters, and enhance the flow, I think this book could've had potential, but I am too caught up in the messiness to be able to rate it any higher than 1.5 (.5 for potential). ...more
I may be butthurt because I WANTED to love this book so much. But there's way too many povs, and because of that, the pacing is hurt and the book ofteI may be butthurt because I WANTED to love this book so much. But there's way too many povs, and because of that, the pacing is hurt and the book often feels like it's going nowhere. I didn't mind the lewdness (but if you're that kinda reader, maybe stay away) - it was really the set-up that got to me. So as much as I wanted to love this read, and though the characters themselves are interesting (which maybe, on second thought, makes me more upset because I WANTED to get to know them but found their characterization skimming the surface) the book didnt pack the punch I expected/wanted it to going in. ...more
Unpopular opinion, but I just didn't ***LOVE*** this one, so I dont think I'll be reading on. The mc was just too much, unrealistically so, and the boUnpopular opinion, but I just didn't ***LOVE*** this one, so I dont think I'll be reading on. The mc was just too much, unrealistically so, and the book was littered with the good ol' love triangle trope that is just not for me. Never been for me. Possibly this one gal's opinion, it seems like a lot of people loved this book. But for me....
I don't usually mind (or know?) if authors are using a self-insert...this one just felt a little too on the nose. And some of the descriptions (sex scI don't usually mind (or know?) if authors are using a self-insert...this one just felt a little too on the nose. And some of the descriptions (sex scenes in particular) were...weird. I did like the characters - not on a deep level that got me crying when it was all said and done, but on a superficial "hey these gals are cool" kinda level. So...just okay. Wanted it to be awesome because, hey, maybe I'm a little like the author as a reader who likes to see fellow lesbians on the page. Ooooor the cover took me in. Or, or, or...but it was just *average.* ...more
I wanted to love this one. I love that its ownvoices, I love retellings/fantasy, and I'm a sucker for some good romance and smut. But this book felt..I wanted to love this one. I love that its ownvoices, I love retellings/fantasy, and I'm a sucker for some good romance and smut. But this book felt...ridiculous. What was advertised was not present hardly at all in the book and the writing itself was....cringe. No steaminess, just awkwardness. Not for me, dnf around 80% (and I got so far!)...more
This book had its strong parts, but the "not like other girls trope" and some other things made me feel like sometimes I was reading something off of This book had its strong parts, but the "not like other girls trope" and some other things made me feel like sometimes I was reading something off of Wattpad. Which...was meh to me....more
Just couldn't get into this one...it felt odd, pace-wise and prose-wise. dnf ~45%Just couldn't get into this one...it felt odd, pace-wise and prose-wise. dnf ~45%...more
As I am not easily disturbed, the dark parts of this book did not upset me (unsettle, perhaps, but not upset - though look at the tws on other posts, As I am not easily disturbed, the dark parts of this book did not upset me (unsettle, perhaps, but not upset - though look at the tws on other posts, for if you are, there are some heavy things going on). My issue with the book was was writing itself...there was no clear voice, which made the book verge on less weird and more incomplete. Yes, I finished it, and yes, there were parts that shocked me (I am not an easy person to shock and I love the dark and morbid - again *CHECK. TWs.* because these went beyond just dark and morbid), but the inconsistent tone, voice, and writing made it just okay rather than good or great. ...more
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I just felt very "meh" about this book. It's great on the surface - a good plot, a cool world, and a solid cast This may be an unpopular opinion, but I just felt very "meh" about this book. It's great on the surface - a good plot, a cool world, and a solid cast of characters. But considering that this book isn't rooted in "our" world, the world-building is almost nonexistent and the plot is pretty dang predictable. I'm sure there are some readers who will devour this one, but I wasn't one of them. Not right now, at least. Maybe I'll re-visit it later and see if my opinions have changed. ...more
This is the kind of book that sounds amazing on the surface, and maybe when you start your journey reading it it is - Turnbull does indeed have a way This is the kind of book that sounds amazing on the surface, and maybe when you start your journey reading it it is - Turnbull does indeed have a way with words, and the characters are interesting - but the overall flow of the book and the often jarring split between first and third person povs made it hard for me to get through or feel motivated to pick up....more
What's boasted as an interesting book and has a summary/blurb that made me want to dive in, the book itself just did not live up to my expectations. IWhat's boasted as an interesting book and has a summary/blurb that made me want to dive in, the book itself just did not live up to my expectations. It took me near no time to read, though, and there were certainly interesting tid bits and characters, but as a whole the pacing felt wonky and the characters detached and not entirely likable. ...more
When I attempt to sum up my understanding of this book, it feels a little something like this...
[image] It was advertised as dark comedy. Was it dark? When I attempt to sum up my understanding of this book, it feels a little something like this...
[image] It was advertised as dark comedy. Was it dark? Yeah. Was there comedy involved? Yeah x2. Only I didn't find it entirely funny, and Awad's writing style was more painful to get through than quirky. I'm all for mixing it up, reading author's with a little extra quirk to their writing style, but this one missed the mark for me. So....see the gif above, because that's all I'm left with. Not for me....more
I don't like to echo other reviews, but when it comes to this one, I feel I must. A great premise, the whole girl-power, vampire, revenge, queer-love I don't like to echo other reviews, but when it comes to this one, I feel I must. A great premise, the whole girl-power, vampire, revenge, queer-love is right up my alley, and that cover looks like a band poster I'd hang in my room as a teen (or now...yeah, now). But the execution fell flat. Oh. so. very. flat. It just wasn't memorable, and what was most disappointing was that the premise sounded and is great, so the boringness of it all left a...bitter taste in my mouth. An okay book all in all, I won't lie and say it didn't have its moments. I just wish there was more to it....more
This is one of those books with such good representation and the potential to be all that, but when it came to the world-building, characters, and entThis is one of those books with such good representation and the potential to be all that, but when it came to the world-building, characters, and entire plot, I just did not find much engagement in it at all. The wb was close to nonexistent and the writing felt too droll to get through, so dnf at around 45%. argh, and i was low-key excited for this one due to the killer rep and sweet cover....more
This is gonna be unpopular, which is why I think this is more of a not for me kind of book, or more specifically, not for me at this very moment. WillThis is gonna be unpopular, which is why I think this is more of a not for me kind of book, or more specifically, not for me at this very moment. Will I pick it up again in the future and attempt it, only to see if my rating changed? Maybe, but right now I just felt it was slow and a bit cliched, and I couldn't get through with as much fervor as I usually like....more
This cover is beautiful and the premise is definitely interesting, but in its execution, the characters and plot/twist fall flat. I just could not getThis cover is beautiful and the premise is definitely interesting, but in its execution, the characters and plot/twist fall flat. I just could not get into the book as much as I would have liked to, especially because I really do think it is a cool idea and Prasad's writing is good, its the development that lacks. None of the characters really stood out or were likable to me, and the way the plot unfolded felt like it could've been deepened, both with character relationships and overall progression. ...more