It was good. Solear is an interesting character and it was fascinating. I wish we were in his head more. I liked Lyra, she knew and accepted that she It was good. Solear is an interesting character and it was fascinating. I wish we were in his head more. I liked Lyra, she knew and accepted that she wasn't a warrior, and that she needed help, and even though it was difficult for her as an independent woman, she didn't do stupid things and left the decision making to Solear, because he had more experience than her and therefore knew better. I just wish we had more time inside his head, I really liked him. And I think there should have been more about his trauma and emotional turmoil, because, even though his healing technically began since Betrothed to the Alien Mercenary, we weren't privy to it. I like characters like him a lot. Waiting for Sin’s story, and Thatcher’s, though for some reason I started to ship him with Dravion. Oh, well. We'll see. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily....more
It wasn't good. She literally wakes up next to a strange man, both of them naked, and the first thing she does is boink him? This was just mediocre smIt wasn't good. She literally wakes up next to a strange man, both of them naked, and the first thing she does is boink him? This was just mediocre smut with a dash of plot....more
I liked it. The characters are relatable and we get to know them through their actions instead of being told about them. There were some funny momentsI liked it. The characters are relatable and we get to know them through their actions instead of being told about them. There were some funny moments, and I do love a good grovel. I just wish there was a prologue or maybe some flashbacks about their time on the TV show. It would have had a bigger emotional impact if we had seen some of it instead of just being told about it. ...more
It was Ok, though I was confused as to where this takes place, or any of the world. At some point fMC's mom says (repeatedly) that she's on another plIt was Ok, though I was confused as to where this takes place, or any of the world. At some point fMC's mom says (repeatedly) that she's on another planet, but until then I had the impression that it took place on earth. Not much is mentioned about dragons and their culture of history, and sometimes it was difficult to picture MMC because the language used for him was very vague, especially when they kissed....more
I liked it. We get more of the history of Serant, and more humans. Artek is an interesting character, and so is Nala. We also get a bit more of what'sI liked it. We get more of the history of Serant, and more humans. Artek is an interesting character, and so is Nala. We also get a bit more of what's happening on Earth and how the Thunder Rock clan is faring after the events of the last book. It was entertaining....more
It was really funny and sometimes emotional. Corvak is both naïve and cunning at the same time, and that makes him a very compelling character. It wasIt was really funny and sometimes emotional. Corvak is both naïve and cunning at the same time, and that makes him a very compelling character. It was interesting to see what the Metlak were doing, and the fact that they have a language was hinted at so long ago, I was beginning to think it wasn’t going to be brought up again, but I should know better than to underestimate Ms Dixon. It was refreshing to see a relationship with very little miscommunication, which gets solved because the couple actually talks. It was a pretty healthy relationship, which sadly is unusual these days in the romance genre. ...more
It is bad. The conversations felt so stiff and unnatural, that I couldn’t read without cringing. Some stuff made no sense. And she changes her mind waIt is bad. The conversations felt so stiff and unnatural, that I couldn’t read without cringing. Some stuff made no sense. And she changes her mind way too often. At times he was super dominant, but most of the time he gave off some golden retriever, people-pleaser energy, so the moments when he decided to go all alpha were jarring. I wasn’t enjoying it, so I’m stopping at 30%....more
It took me through the emotional spectrum. I laughed, I cried, I even got angry at some point. Poppy thinks a lot, and her thoughts were all over the It took me through the emotional spectrum. I laughed, I cried, I even got angry at some point. Poppy thinks a lot, and her thoughts were all over the place sometimes, but she reminded me of myself. Her mind never stopped. At the end she talks about a possible, undiagnosed neurodivergence, and I could see it through the prose. Rai’s chapters also reflected his personality, and it was interesting to see how he grew through the story. He was somehow innocent and wise at the same time, and the author managed to capture that in the text. Poppy showed some character development as well. Their relationship progressed somewhat naturally, albeit fast (for human standards, but, hey, he’s Fae, so…). The side characters were interesting too, and the world felt full, and vibrant. The magic is not explained in too much depth, but the author gives the reader the necessary information to understand the stakes and be interesting. CW include mention of COVID and the pandemic, death of a parent, gaslighting (from Poppy’s ex), panic attacks, and OCD. ...more
I was confused half of the time, because the descriptions aren't great, and the writing isn’t particularly good. I just continued and didn’t dwell on I was confused half of the time, because the descriptions aren't great, and the writing isn’t particularly good. I just continued and didn’t dwell on the myriad typos, missing/extra words and grammar mistakes, or I wouldn’t have finished. The story wasn’t that good anyway, and there were a lot of things that aren’t explained. Val thinks to ask about Tor’s culture, but never does, so we know next to nothing about the snow monsters, and there’s mention of a war, but that is never explained in any detail. Magic as well. They’re tracking her (I have no idea how, it’s mentioned once and never again), but there’s a jammer (this one’s mentioned twice in the same scene), and there are “enemies” but all that is forgotten the second the scene ends and never brought up again. The smut is cringe. ...more
I didn't like it. There was little worldbuilding, and everything was "the prison" "the city" "the village" as if there was only one, or something. So I didn't like it. There was little worldbuilding, and everything was "the prison" "the city" "the village" as if there was only one, or something. So I had absolutely no idea where this takes place, or when.There was no chemistry between the MCs, and everyone comes out as one-dimensional and flat. The only good thing about this is that it’s short. ...more
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%. It was very badly written. The protagonists were insufferable. She was a judgemental B**ch all the time, she hateDid not finish book. Stopped at 43%. It was very badly written. The protagonists were insufferable. She was a judgemental B**ch all the time, she hated all men, and objectified MMC whenever she had the chance. She was always looking at his crotch instead of his face, and she called him ugly so many times, there was no way I could believe a HEA for her, at least not with him. He wasn’t much better, either. He puts her at risk by not disclosing a condition that rendered him unable to do shit, never trains her and complains she can’t do anything (and shames her for it), violates her privacy while complaining she invaded his, and sincerely doesn’t seem to care about the job he’s supposedly doing (which I couldn’t really tell you what it was). The work they were doing seemed to require at least three or four people to do it, I can’t fathom why the company would only send two “co-captains” (which made no sense, since they didn’t have any crew to captain over) to a space station while having a way larger crew for a spaceship, which I assume would be way smaller, but I couldn’t tell because there’s no worldbuilding. With the amount of space pirates there seemed to be, they would have required a small army to defend the station. But no, because apparently there was no way the author could think of for these two to end together other than to have fMC be assaulted constantly and MMC being unable to react on time because of the PTSD he didn’t disclose with the person who depended on him for their safety, just to magically react on time to prevent the actual rape, and then act as if the assault wasn’t a big deal just because there wasn’t any actual penetration. The writing was extremely juvenile, and I didn’t want to waste more time with this....more
I liked it. The author did some research on the time period and on pirates and it shows. The language is immersive and it really feels like a pirate sI liked it. The author did some research on the time period and on pirates and it shows. The language is immersive and it really feels like a pirate story. Betts is a complex person, conflicted with what she agreed to do and what she feels. Sure, Hybris has a way to push her buttons, but that doesn’t mean she wants him dead. He’s as lonely as she is, and they bond over that, and over the way people have treated them for being other. The side characters are interesting, and maybe we get a spinoff in the future with the stories of the rest of the crew. I received an ARC and I leave this review voluntarily. ...more
3.5 stars rounded up. I liked it. Teeth is a bit of an asshole at first, but he does regret it (eventually). Sabrina was very sex positive, and in gene3.5 stars rounded up. I liked it. Teeth is a bit of an asshole at first, but he does regret it (eventually). Sabrina was very sex positive, and in general the story is good. The characters had chemistry, but the romance felt a bit too rushed. It was entertaining, and kind of addictive (I just couldn’t stop reading)....more
He's a mix of little things that constitute racist stereotypes for a bunch of different races across the media. He has elements of the stoic warrior oHe's a mix of little things that constitute racist stereotypes for a bunch of different races across the media. He has elements of the stoic warrior often associated with Native Americans, and the red skin is often associated with them as well. He's the Latino lover, stressed by his Latino name and the use of Spanish words (though they don't really make sense for an alien to use). Black men are often described as "bulls", and the difference in strength with fMC is often associated with Black men as well. And she's a mix of the entitled heiress, the mafia princess and the hiper-sexual Latino woman (though this one is just because of her name), which are all harmful. Her father was white, and her mother is never described and barely mentioned, but had the impulsivity often associated with Latina women, and this theory is sort of confirmed by the Spanish name the daughter had. Amazing how people can fit so many microaggressions in such a short thing. TW for mention of suicide and suicidal thoughts. ...more
I liked it. Though Ragnar gave me whiplash with how many times he changed his mind about Maia. At first he hates her, then out of the blue he wants toI liked it. Though Ragnar gave me whiplash with how many times he changed his mind about Maia. At first he hates her, then out of the blue he wants to lick her bosom. Then back to hating her, then a little respect, then he ignores her, then is sweet and tender, back to ignoring her again… Also, there are so many plot points that don’t get explored in depth, just brushed over. I hope that in future books those aspects get explored more deeply. All the trolls are interesting characters, and Iliked exploring their culture, though we get it drop by drop here. Overall it was entertaining, an interesting mix of everyday fluff with a lot of darker themes and situations. I couldn’t find a list of TW for this book anywhere, so here it goes: Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture (epilogue), Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail Moderate: Emotional abuse (Maia’s father, mentioned), Child death (several mentions), Racism, Rape (mentioned, off page), Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting (Maia was told a lot of lies by her father and humans in general). ...more
It was too short, and everything felt shallow. A lot of things and places are mentioned, but I never got a real sense of the world. It was OK, but lacIt was too short, and everything felt shallow. A lot of things and places are mentioned, but I never got a real sense of the world. It was OK, but lacked any depth. The art is pretty, though. ...more
I liked it. It’s instalove, but it was to be expected from a novella. The “putting the eggs inside” part wasn’t my favorite, though. Felt a bit too clI liked it. It’s instalove, but it was to be expected from a novella. The “putting the eggs inside” part wasn’t my favorite, though. Felt a bit too close to body horror for me to consider it sexy. ...more