This was a cute and very funny book. The MC is stuck in a horrible job and then literally gets stuck inThank you NetGalley and OrbitBooks for the ARC!
This was a cute and very funny book. The MC is stuck in a horrible job and then literally gets stuck in the Fae world, where she starts to teach human classes to the fairies. A lot of the book's humor comes from the misunderstandings between the two groups, and the author does a great job defining the differences between humans and fae.
The story itself is light and not too complicated. I wished it went a bit deeper sometimes, but the lighter story is very consistent with the tone.
There is some romance very light, which was fine for me but could be disappointing if you're looking for more romance in the story. I did really appreciate the bisexual representation in the book.
I just really enjoyed it, it was a very fun book. ...more
It has been a few years since I read the Cruel Prince trilogy, and it was nice to return to that same world. It was a very different story, a lot moreIt has been a few years since I read the Cruel Prince trilogy, and it was nice to return to that same world. It was a very different story, a lot more adventure story and a lot less political intrigue. I do think I prefer the original trilogy, but this was still fun. I love the way Holly Black writes the Fae and how strange, cruel and unpredictable they can be. I'm very eager to read the sequel. ...more
I enjoyed this book a lot. It really pulled me in. I know the author based it on a HOTD fanfiction, and as someone familiar with that show I could seeI enjoyed this book a lot. It really pulled me in. I know the author based it on a HOTD fanfiction, and as someone familiar with that show I could see that at times, but I think that was mostly because I already knew and was looking for it subconsciously. I do think enough was changed for it to be its own thing.
The author did a good job making the story and the world entirely her own. I love how it was based on Scotland and Scottish folklore. The worldbuilding was clear and easy to understand.
There were a few times I found Aemyra a little frustrating or a bit annoying, but I did like to follow her story. I'm very curious to see where this will go in the future. ...more
I enjoyed this book a bit less than the last one. The way the story is written makes it hard to get too invested in anything, as there is a distance iI enjoyed this book a bit less than the last one. The way the story is written makes it hard to get too invested in anything, as there is a distance in the narrative. I felt that a bit more with this one than with the first, maybe because the world has now been more established and isn't as new.
I did still enjoy it. I like the narration style, how it's written like a memoir, and I also enjoy the worldbuilding and magical science. But the characters (besides Lady Trent) aren't all that memorable to me.
Still, it's an interesting and pretty unique series. I do recommend it if it sounds interesting to you. ...more
I really enjoyed this comic. I wish they'd go back to the longer stories, though. I love Mai and I enjoyed her arc in this comic, it was unexpected buI really enjoyed this comic. I wish they'd go back to the longer stories, though. I love Mai and I enjoyed her arc in this comic, it was unexpected but fun. I do wish they put a bit more nuance in Azula's portrayal, especially as a kid. I think there is a lot of room to explore more than one-sided 'she's evil' that the comics are doing now, which is a shame. ...more
Hmm. I really liked the start of this book, but around the midway point I felt myself growing a bit tired of the predictable plot and the overly cozinHmm. I really liked the start of this book, but around the midway point I felt myself growing a bit tired of the predictable plot and the overly coziness. I know it's kind of the premise and it'sprobably a me problem instead of a problem with the book, but I found it all a bit too perfect and too convenient.
The world is interesting but not too fleshed out. I liked the characters but I didn't love the romance. All in all, very middle of the road for me. So a solid 3 star. ...more
I really enjoyed the first half of the story but I really didn't enjoy the last few chapters and the way it ended. I read the other books by this authI really enjoyed the first half of the story but I really didn't enjoy the last few chapters and the way it ended. I read the other books by this author way back in the day, a decade ago now, and really loved them. I was happily surprised this book was set in the same universe as the Winner's Trilogy, but at the same time I don't know if I remember enough of those books to really catch anything. Id o have some suspicions about Sid's parents, but that's all.
I'm probably not going to read the next book because I saw a few reviews that put me off, as well as the ending of this one. A shame, but I don't think I like the direction it's going in. ...more
I really enjoyed this book! I considered giving it 5 stars at one point, but there were some things I didn't enjoy which made me knock off a star. I mI really enjoyed this book! I considered giving it 5 stars at one point, but there were some things I didn't enjoy which made me knock off a star. I mainly didn't really care for the romance. But for me, the world building made up for it. This book is just really straight up my alley. I love historical fantasy, I love fae who are messed up and have interesting lore, and I love competitions. So this book just checked all of these boxes for me.
I saw the twist at the end coming, which I didn't mind. I'm very curious about the sequel, as I heard it'll be a duology. ...more
I keep being surprised by how much I enjoy this series. It's such an action-packed story with a perfect blend of fantasy and romance for me. It's a biI keep being surprised by how much I enjoy this series. It's such an action-packed story with a perfect blend of fantasy and romance for me. It's a bit over the top and a bit predictable and cheesy at times, but I really enjoy it.
What I did find some issue with in this one was how long it took for Aren to forgive Lara. In my eyes, she hadn't even done anything that bad (not on purpose, anyway) and it was getting a bit annoying seeing her risk her life over and over again to prove her worth. I understood it, but it went on a bit too long for me.
Otherwise, it was a good story. I'm very curious about the other books in this series, as they cover other couples. It'll be interesting to see different perspectives. ...more
I feel a little like I couldn't fully appreciate this book because I was struggling a lot with a reading slump during it, but I still really enjoyed iI feel a little like I couldn't fully appreciate this book because I was struggling a lot with a reading slump during it, but I still really enjoyed it. This series looks so promising and I am very eager to read more.
It is a fantasy romance with a couple who is in their 30s, which I feel is rare enough. The setting is great, and I love the whole concept of this order of Paladin's whose god died and who now have no real purpose. The story got a little wacky at times, but I didn't mind it.
Shorefall was a very different book to me than Foundryside , though I enjoyed it still. I was a bit surprised by the time skip and shift in tone, but Shorefall was a very different book to me than Foundryside , though I enjoyed it still. I was a bit surprised by the time skip and shift in tone, but I did likeit overall. In the middle it took a bit of pushing to get through it, though. I love these intricate fantasy stories, but they aren't always the easiest reads. What I really enjoyed was the dynamic between the main characters, it was very nice to see how they have developed since the start of the first book.
I'm very curious to see how the series will end and will definitely try to read the third one sometime this year. ...more
I really enjoyed this book! I kind of have a love/hate relationship with cozy fantasy a lot of the time. I tend to like the idea of them a lot, but fiI really enjoyed this book! I kind of have a love/hate relationship with cozy fantasy a lot of the time. I tend to like the idea of them a lot, but find the books either kind of uneventful (low stakes) or to have a very boring generic (DNDish) fantasy setting. This book avoided both those things for me. It was definitely cozy and cute, but also had real stakes and a world that felt very fleshed out.
I've read two of this author's other books this year and was very curious about this one too. I don't think it's my favorite, but it's probably my secI've read two of this author's other books this year and was very curious about this one too. I don't think it's my favorite, but it's probably my second favorite. It was a sweet story with surprising depth, and a pretty easy and quick read.
I really enjoy all the romance books by this author that have some sort of twist or different concept. I'm definitely keeping an eye on her releases....more
This was a cute, quick read. I listened to the audiobook version and finished it within a day while doing a puzzle. It's nothing groundbreaking, but mThis was a cute, quick read. I listened to the audiobook version and finished it within a day while doing a puzzle. It's nothing groundbreaking, but much like the other stories in this trilogy it's a fun romance with a sprinkling of fantasy. This one involves time travel, which I always like.
The idea of it is really fun, I like the concept of the holiday kingdoms and the forbidden romance between two priMan this book is a tough one for me.
The idea of it is really fun, I like the concept of the holiday kingdoms and the forbidden romance between two princes a lot. But the book just didn't feel like it was marketed right, in my opinion. I was expecting some fun and cute romcom shenanigans, instead I got a lot of political intrigue, a horrible father forcing his son into things, a lot of angst and melodrama and the romance almost seemed like a sideplot.
The setting/world building also didn't really work for me. I alternated between wishing I knew less and more of the world. On the one hand, I felt like the political plot completely overtook the romance. On the other hand, I felt like I didn't really grasp how any of it worked, even by the end of the book. The author kept mentioning other holidays vaguely grouped together as 'winter holidays' or 'autumn holidays' but only named a few, mostly the american-centric ones. Why couldn't we get more details on those, if we're spending this much time focused on the holiday plot?
I'm reluctantly giving it three stars because it did grab my attention and by the end I was pretty on board with the romance, but I'm definitely not reading more in this series. It's not my cup of tea....more
I really liked this book! It took a while for it to really pull me in, but once I was into the story I had to keep on reading. I think the mystery wasI really liked this book! It took a while for it to really pull me in, but once I was into the story I had to keep on reading. I think the mystery was really well done, with the switching POV chapters slowly revealing more and more slowly. There's a few things I didn't love but overall I really liked it. ...more
This was a cute book but also pretty forgettable to me. I mostly felt like it dragged on at times. It was fun, but not something I'd really come back This was a cute book but also pretty forgettable to me. I mostly felt like it dragged on at times. It was fun, but not something I'd really come back to. A solid read but a little dull at times for me. ...more
I really liked the start, it felt strong and very interesting, but then it quickly stopped being that way for me. I jThis was a disappointment for me.
I really liked the start, it felt strong and very interesting, but then it quickly stopped being that way for me. I just felt like the writing wasn't that good, the main character was very weak and made strange decisions and the magic was too vague. This book felt like it was trying very hard to be as dark academia as possible and it felt a little odd.
A lot of the concepts the book was hinting at could have been explored more I feel.
After reading A Taste of Gold and Iron I also looked up this novella because I just wanted a bit more from this world. I enjoyed it and I liked gettinAfter reading A Taste of Gold and Iron I also looked up this novella because I just wanted a bit more from this world. I enjoyed it and I liked getting more of an insight into Tadek, but I also feel like it didn't add a whole lot. It was alright, and I liked seeing more of the characters, but it felt more like a character study than a story to me. ...more
While this was a fine short story and it gives readers some more background info about Braden, he is really the only character that appears in this thWhile this was a fine short story and it gives readers some more background info about Braden, he is really the only character that appears in this that also appears in the rest of the series and it doesn't seem to add that much to the series as a whole. I realize, though, that this was meant to be read before the series while I did it after so my perspective on it isn't exactly what was intended. Still, the story was funny and cute and I felt bad for Braden, it's nice to know he makes friends later on in the other books.
I would recommendthis short story to anyone who's not sure if they want to read Witch Eyes because it gives some insight into the main character and might give you an idea about if you would like it or not.
Merged review:
While this was a fine short story and it gives readers some more background info about Braden, he is really the only character that appears in this that also appears in the rest of the series and it doesn't seem to add that much to the series as a whole. I realize, though, that this was meant to be read before the series while I did it after so my perspective on it isn't exactly what was intended. Still, the story was funny and cute and I felt bad for Braden, it's nice to know he makes friends later on in the other books.
I would recommendthis short story to anyone who's not sure if they want to read Witch Eyes because it gives some insight into the main character and might give you an idea about if you would like it or not....more