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
I felt similarly about this book as I did about the last one. It was a little better, but I still felt like it wasn't an entirely necessary addition tI felt similarly about this book as I did about the last one. It was a little better, but I still felt like it wasn't an entirely necessary addition to the series. It felt a bit repetitive at the end, like we have been here before. But I did enjoy it overall and I liked the little flash to the future at the end. The characters were strong and fun enough to carry the series for a bit longer, but it does feel like it went on just a bit too long. ...more
I have never read anything by Ali Hazelwood before and I haven't heard great things about her more popular books, so I decided to try this one out. I I have never read anything by Ali Hazelwood before and I haven't heard great things about her more popular books, so I decided to try this one out. I didn't know it was YA(ish?) when I picked it up, and I ended up surprised by how much I liked it. The chess setting was very unique and I liked the dynamics between the leads but also between the main girl and her family. I did think she was a bit immature at times, but she was only eighteen so it wasn't a big stretch.
I remember really liking Chalice of the Gods, but if I think back on it now I barely remember what happened in it. I think I mostly really enjoyed seeI remember really liking Chalice of the Gods, but if I think back on it now I barely remember what happened in it. I think I mostly really enjoyed seeing Percy, Grover and Annabeth together again after so many years. But now that I'm used to that, I think the trilogy is a little disappointingThis book was amusing and still written in the fun Rick Riordan style, but the lack of real stakes is starting to get to me. I just had a lot of trouble getting invested in the story, even if I really enjoy the main characters.
It's fun and silly but nothing close to the original PJO books. ...more
When I saw The Darkness Outside Us was getting a sequel I was really excited. The first book is one of my favorite books ever, I even reread it in antWhen I saw The Darkness Outside Us was getting a sequel I was really excited. The first book is one of my favorite books ever, I even reread it in anticipation of this one. It holds up. This book was alright. I enjoyed it a bit less than I hoped, but I think it's mostly because a sequel wasn't really necessary. It was entertaining and it was pretty good, but I feel like it wasn't as neat a story as the first book. I struggled a bit with the two separate plot lines in the book. They were combined pretty well in the end, but I was still way more invested in the plotline set in the future than in the past.
I also thought the Devon Mujaba was kind of silly, it felt very forced in order to have a recognizable name in the story.
A low 4 stars, probably closer to a 3.5. A good book but not even close to being as good as the first one in my opinion. ...more
This was a quick novella to read and I enjoyed a lot of the concepts in the story, but it still felt like it was lacking something. It just all felt lThis was a quick novella to read and I enjoyed a lot of the concepts in the story, but it still felt like it was lacking something. It just all felt like it went a bit too quick and easy and I'm not sure what to make of the ending. I'm sure it's expanded on in the other books in the series, but I don't really feel the urge to pick them up. It was a good read, but it didn't really capture me....more
I was very curious what the continuation of this series would be like, as this book and the next one came out quite a bit after the original trilogy. I was very curious what the continuation of this series would be like, as this book and the next one came out quite a bit after the original trilogy. I have to say, I wasn't a big fan. It wasn't bad, I still enjoyed the characters and the writing, but there were a lot of convoluted plot twists I really doubt were planned in the original books. It was still a fun read, but I do think this series gets a little weaker with each installment. That said, I do still want to read the final book, just to see how it ends. ...more
This one felt a lot like the second book to me. It was fun and entertaining but not as good as the first one. I liked Jaron's growth a lot, though notThis one felt a lot like the second book to me. It was fun and entertaining but not as good as the first one. I liked Jaron's growth a lot, though nothing in this book really surprised me. I'm very curious to read the more recent books in this universe though!...more
This book wasn't quite as good as the first one, mostly the plot which was a lot weaker in my opinion. But I still had a good time with it, mostly becThis book wasn't quite as good as the first one, mostly the plot which was a lot weaker in my opinion. But I still had a good time with it, mostly becuase I've grown to really like the characers. Jaron is just a delight to read about, even when his choices are a bit questionable. ...more
This series started pretty strong but definitely lost a lot of steam along the way, in my opinion. This last book was pretty weak, the only reason I eThis series started pretty strong but definitely lost a lot of steam along the way, in my opinion. This last book was pretty weak, the only reason I enjoyed it was because I had grown to love the characters in the first two books.
Guinevere seemed to have lost a lot of her character development, it wasn't a lot of fun to read about her thinking she deserved to die all the time.
I also find it very odd how the author wrapped up the romance. It seemed to point heavily in one direction (the one I had been hoping for) but then it doesn't actually happen on the page. It's just hinted at. I was hoping for more. I'll keep it vague because of spoilers but it was a bit of a disappointment to me. ...more
I loved this book! It was just such a cute romance with such a fun setting, it was hard to put down. I pretty much read it in one sitting. The main chI loved this book! It was just such a cute romance with such a fun setting, it was hard to put down. I pretty much read it in one sitting. The main characters, as were the side characters, were both fun in their own way. I just loved it.
A very fun YA contemporary romance, I'm definitely keeping my eye on his author. ...more
I've enjoyed all of F.T. Lukens' work a lot, and this was no exception. I do like it a little less than their other books, but I still really enjoyed I've enjoyed all of F.T. Lukens' work a lot, and this was no exception. I do like it a little less than their other books, but I still really enjoyed it.
Otherworldly has a very fun magic concept of an eternal winter that really sets the stage for the book. I enjoyed the main characters and supporting cast a lot, and the romance was cute. My one gripe with the book is that it felt a bit repetitive and slow at times, and occasionally Ellery got on my nerves a little. They were frustrating at times, but I could also always understand where they were coming from so it was not badly written. ...more
I was really drawn to this story by the cover, though I also love a fae premise. I really enjoyed this one, though at times it felt a bit slow. I likeI was really drawn to this story by the cover, though I also love a fae premise. I really enjoyed this one, though at times it felt a bit slow. I liked the main characters and their dynamic, especially the dynamic between the sisters. Overall, it was a fun YA fantasy. I'll probably read the sequel when it's out....more
I've had this book on my TBR forever and I finally decided to read it. The premise was intriguing, but the writing style wasn't really for me. I consiI've had this book on my TBR forever and I finally decided to read it. The premise was intriguing, but the writing style wasn't really for me. I considered DNFing it early on, but did get used to it. It felt a bit like it was trying too hard to be funny, but I know some people enjoy that sort of sarcastic humor. I did enjoy it sometimes, but it was a but much other times.
This book didn't blow me away, but it was enjoyable. I liked the main character and liked some of the worldbuilding, though some of it felt very flimsy too (old gods and new gods is really what they call them?) All in all, it was fun but I probably would have enjoyed it more a few years ago. I'm not going to continue the series ...more
I really loved this book, I keep thinking about it. This pulled off a twist extremely well and really played with your expectations and how much Wow.
I really loved this book, I keep thinking about it. This pulled off a twist extremely well and really played with your expectations and how much the reader's view is colored by the narrator. I love a twist that is surprising but also makes sense, and this really did that.
Definitely my favorite Holly Jackson book, it was amazing. ...more
I was honestly drawn in a bit by the beautiful cover, but the story also really appealed to me. Sometimes a romance in a fantasy/historical setting juI was honestly drawn in a bit by the beautiful cover, but the story also really appealed to me. Sometimes a romance in a fantasy/historical setting just hits, but this one didn't really. It wasn't bad, but I had trouble getting through it and definitely didn't feel swept up in the romance.
It's a lower three-star for me. I found the world building vague, the characters a bit boring and the romance just... okay. It felt a little like it tried too hard to appeal to Bridgerton fans, with quite a few things that seem to reference the show directly, which took me out of it.
I did like the very casual LGBTQ rep though, that was nice. ...more
The beautiful cover was what attracted me to this book at first, and the synopsis also really spoke to me. I have to say it was a beautiful book. I loThe beautiful cover was what attracted me to this book at first, and the synopsis also really spoke to me. I have to say it was a beautiful book. I loved the book's message and the way the two sisters reacted so differently to the same situation, especially because you could still understand both of them. Sometimes their decisions were a bit frustrating, but they were always understandable. I could believe the character would make a choice, even if I knew it was the wrong choice for the situation. Because it was believable, it wasn't frustrating.
The book has some romance too, which I have to say was well done. But what I liked best was the relationship between the two sisters. It was very well-written. ...more
This wasn't bad, but it also wasn't as impactful as I had hoped.
Azula is a very interesting character and it was nice to get a peek into her mind, buThis wasn't bad, but it also wasn't as impactful as I had hoped.
Azula is a very interesting character and it was nice to get a peek into her mind, but the story didn't really accomplish anything. I wonder if it's a prequel to something else Azula-related coming out in the future, as it mostly seems to reflect on her character a bit and hint a bit at the future. If you're hoping for something that drives her story forward, I wouldn't get this comic. It's more about her reflecting on her family/friends and her own actions. Though I'm not sure what she took away from it in the end. ...more
This book was atmospheric and beautifully written. It took a bit to get into, especially with the complicated worldbuilding and the magic system, but This book was atmospheric and beautifully written. It took a bit to get into, especially with the complicated worldbuilding and the magic system, but overall I really enjoyed it. I liked the moody atmosphere, the separate POVs and the dark twists in the story. It felt a bit slow at times, but I still wasn't ever really bored. I'm very curious to see where the sequel will go. ...more
I liked Divine Rivals, though I didn't love it as much as some people did. Still, I liked it enough to pick up the sequeThis one was a disappointment.
I liked Divine Rivals, though I didn't love it as much as some people did. Still, I liked it enough to pick up the sequel fairly quickly, and it was just... boring to me. I couldn't get into it. The author seemed to attempt to do the whole letter-writing thing again, but it fell flat to me. The actual plot was also just... boring, it's been about a week and I've already forgotten what happened.
I think this would have worked better as a standalone for me personally. ...more