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ashley_mrose530's reviews
457 reviews
Faithbreaker by Hannah Kaner
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for a digital ARC of this book!
This was absolutely everything it needed to be to end the series.
This is the last book in a trilogy, so I'm going to try to give a synopsis without spoiling the other two. As Middren is preparing for war with the Talicians, the god of fire Hseth has risen to almost be invincible and our favorite characters: Inara, Elogast, Kissen, and Skedicath, have to come together with friends and enemies alike to help bring her down and end the war.
This book was so well done. The last 100 pages were incredibly impactful and filled with energy. It really gave me everything I needed for the ending of this series.
I loved the little romantic developments we got in this book too. They were tasteful and well developed without being overpowering of the plot line.
I will say that I felt like it was a little slow in the middle. It kind of lost my attention for a little bit in there and I'm not sure why. There was still plenty going on, but I just had a hard time getting through it for some reason.
I also wish the falling action was a little longer. It was basically 10 pages and I felt like some of the lingering questions could have been fleshed out a little more to give us a full picture of how things settled.
Overall though, this whole series was fantastic and I loved this ending for it even though it might have been a little painful. But it was also kind of hopeful and that made it perfect.
This was absolutely everything it needed to be to end the series.
This is the last book in a trilogy, so I'm going to try to give a synopsis without spoiling the other two. As Middren is preparing for war with the Talicians, the god of fire Hseth has risen to almost be invincible and our favorite characters: Inara, Elogast, Kissen, and Skedicath, have to come together with friends and enemies alike to help bring her down and end the war.
This book was so well done. The last 100 pages were incredibly impactful and filled with energy. It really gave me everything I needed for the ending of this series.
I loved the little romantic developments we got in this book too. They were tasteful and well developed without being overpowering of the plot line.
I will say that I felt like it was a little slow in the middle. It kind of lost my attention for a little bit in there and I'm not sure why. There was still plenty going on, but I just had a hard time getting through it for some reason.
I also wish the falling action was a little longer. It was basically 10 pages and I felt like some of the lingering questions could have been fleshed out a little more to give us a full picture of how things settled.
Overall though, this whole series was fantastic and I loved this ending for it even though it might have been a little painful. But it was also kind of hopeful and that made it perfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was so disappointing after that premise. I really think that premise had so much potential to be really romantic and make me fall in love with love, but the execution was terrible.
First of all, I really didn't like the FMC. Right off the bat she was WAY too immature for her age. This is supposed to be a 30 year old woman and she's closing her eyes so she doesn't have to see her mom and her step dad kissing???? And the fact that all of that happened in high school and they haven't talked about it????? That's literally over a decade of icing your mom out just because you refuse to acknowledge apologies or listen to explanations. She was so selfish, not caring about what anyone else was going through at all. I almost DNF'd because of this and I probably should have honestly.
I felt like the ending just dragged out so bad. It was strung along only revealing one secret at a time with every chance meeting after their first blow up. It just felt like it was trying to increase page count unnecessarily.
And finally, the romance. There really wasn't any. I didn't realize when I read the premise that this was going to be a second-chance romance and I really wish it hadn't been. I don't usually like second-chance romance because it relies heavily on the past relationship to build any romance, but this one took it a step farther and just refused to build any chemistry or romantic gestures or anything throughout. I felt nothing for their story at all and the overall effect was just boring.
This book did try to tackle some of the issues it brought up at the end. Like I did see some growth in the FMC. She grew out of her selfishness a little bit and finally listened to the explanations people had for the supposed grievances they had committed against her. But it just wasn't enough for me. Her reactions were still incredibly childish and ridiculous. And don't even get me started on the portrayal of grief or lack thereof.
Anyway, this book really didn't work out like I hoped it would at all.
First of all, I really didn't like the FMC. Right off the bat she was WAY too immature for her age. This is supposed to be a 30 year old woman and she's closing her eyes so she doesn't have to see her mom and her step dad kissing???? And the fact that all of that happened in high school and they haven't talked about it????? That's literally over a decade of icing your mom out just because you refuse to acknowledge apologies or listen to explanations. She was so selfish, not caring about what anyone else was going through at all. I almost DNF'd because of this and I probably should have honestly.
I felt like the ending just dragged out so bad. It was strung along only revealing one secret at a time with every chance meeting after their first blow up. It just felt like it was trying to increase page count unnecessarily.
And finally, the romance. There really wasn't any. I didn't realize when I read the premise that this was going to be a second-chance romance and I really wish it hadn't been. I don't usually like second-chance romance because it relies heavily on the past relationship to build any romance, but this one took it a step farther and just refused to build any chemistry or romantic gestures or anything throughout. I felt nothing for their story at all and the overall effect was just boring.
This book did try to tackle some of the issues it brought up at the end. Like I did see some growth in the FMC. She grew out of her selfishness a little bit and finally listened to the explanations people had for the supposed grievances they had committed against her. But it just wasn't enough for me. Her reactions were still incredibly childish and ridiculous. And don't even get me started on the portrayal of grief or lack thereof.
Anyway, this book really didn't work out like I hoped it would at all.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was such a good book.
It's a classic hero's journey type of story and it's being told in such a different way that it surprised me. The POV switches really keep you focused on the story and actually thinking about it at the beginning in a way that's kind of impossible to describe.
I loved the prose and the almost lyrical way this story is told as if reciting it from memory out loud like a folk tale.
I also loved the main characters. I was rooting for them from the very beginning, especially Keema who always seemed to be the butt of the joke and got shit on for his missing arm. He deserved nice things. And June was just trying to make up for his past, for following the orders he was given without thinking about them. I have to admire his determination throughout the novel.
I will say that it took me a while to get used to the POV switching and I think that hindered my ability to grasp the world building and the story set up a bit, especially since I was listening to it rather than reading it physically. I knew that it was going to be a challenge in this format going into the book, so I just want to make sure others are aware of that as well.
On the surface, this is a hero's journey with a love story, but if you dig deeper this novel is about rising up against tyrannical government and healing what has been broken. It is beautifully written, even with the slightly confusing POV switches, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who reads fantasy books.
It's a classic hero's journey type of story and it's being told in such a different way that it surprised me. The POV switches really keep you focused on the story and actually thinking about it at the beginning in a way that's kind of impossible to describe.
I loved the prose and the almost lyrical way this story is told as if reciting it from memory out loud like a folk tale.
I also loved the main characters. I was rooting for them from the very beginning, especially Keema who always seemed to be the butt of the joke and got shit on for his missing arm. He deserved nice things. And June was just trying to make up for his past, for following the orders he was given without thinking about them. I have to admire his determination throughout the novel.
I will say that it took me a while to get used to the POV switching and I think that hindered my ability to grasp the world building and the story set up a bit, especially since I was listening to it rather than reading it physically. I knew that it was going to be a challenge in this format going into the book, so I just want to make sure others are aware of that as well.
On the surface, this is a hero's journey with a love story, but if you dig deeper this novel is about rising up against tyrannical government and healing what has been broken. It is beautifully written, even with the slightly confusing POV switches, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who reads fantasy books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Alcohol
Lucy Undying by Kiersten White
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I feel like I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time.
This was such a good story and I loved the way it was laid out. I loved the journal entries, the spoken story to the therapist, and the present day with Iris and Elle. It was so experimental and it really worked here. Not to mention that Dracula's POV was in second person which you rarely ever see. The author really did experiment with technical craft in this book and I loved it. It really helped me keep track of the time period I was listening to and keep them separate in my head.
I was really just in awe of the writing throughout this book. It was so in the moment. It kept me focused on what was happening during that scene instead of letting my mind drift to predictions or worse, something else entirely. Any time my mind starts to wander to other things is a sign that a book is either boring me or is being too slow at that specific point, but I never had that with this one. I was in it from the get go.
I also loved the characters! Lucy was so sweet and her need to be loved for who she is was so relatable. I was so sad that she had to spend centuries looking for that when she should have had it automatically. I also loved Iris. She was headstrong and witty. I was happy to see that she was able to learn what was right even though she grew up with a mom who didn't show that to her. She broke that mold and I was proud of her for it.
Finally, as I said before, I loved that this book kept me so in the moment that I wasn't really able to make predictions so the twists did take me by surprise throughout. I love it when a book can surprise me. It truly doesn't happen very often so I always appreciate it when it does.
I genuinely loved everything about this book and I'm so glad I finally got my hands on it after having it sit on my want to read shelf for a year and half.
This was such a good story and I loved the way it was laid out. I loved the journal entries, the spoken story to the therapist, and the present day with Iris and Elle. It was so experimental and it really worked here. Not to mention that Dracula's POV was in second person which you rarely ever see. The author really did experiment with technical craft in this book and I loved it. It really helped me keep track of the time period I was listening to and keep them separate in my head.
I was really just in awe of the writing throughout this book. It was so in the moment. It kept me focused on what was happening during that scene instead of letting my mind drift to predictions or worse, something else entirely. Any time my mind starts to wander to other things is a sign that a book is either boring me or is being too slow at that specific point, but I never had that with this one. I was in it from the get go.
I also loved the characters! Lucy was so sweet and her need to be loved for who she is was so relatable. I was so sad that she had to spend centuries looking for that when she should have had it automatically. I also loved Iris. She was headstrong and witty. I was happy to see that she was able to learn what was right even though she grew up with a mom who didn't show that to her. She broke that mold and I was proud of her for it.
Finally, as I said before, I loved that this book kept me so in the moment that I wasn't really able to make predictions so the twists did take me by surprise throughout. I love it when a book can surprise me. It truly doesn't happen very often so I always appreciate it when it does.
I genuinely loved everything about this book and I'm so glad I finally got my hands on it after having it sit on my want to read shelf for a year and half.
Heartsong by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This one was much more plot focused than the both of the previous books I think which I enjoyed, but because of that I think the character growth and relationship development might have suffered a little bit.
I want to start off by saying I loved the beginning and how he chose to start this book.Because Klune writes with many time jumps in his stories, I didn't actually realize that we had started in the present rather than in the past and I know that was intentional. I thought we were getting a little back story of who Robbie was in the compound and what his life was like there before he met the Bennetts, but then I realized that wasn't the case and he was actually at the compound again. And I figured it out only a split second before Robbie was basically told by that the little boy. I had a lot of fun with that twist and really enjoyed it.
And again, I really liked how much more plot focused this book was but it did struggle a little bit with the romantic relationship development. I felt like it relied quite a bit on the past as well as the instant fated mates thing rather than developing a new relationship for them in the present. But in the end I did think they were cute together and I did find their chemistry eventually.
I do think it did a good job of redeveloping Robbie's connection to the entire pack though. I think that was more of the focus over the romantic relationship which was part of the plot a little bit more too.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than the previous one and I'm very interested in seeing how the next one goes.
I want to start off by saying I loved the beginning and how he chose to start this book.
And again, I really liked how much more plot focused this book was but it did struggle a little bit with the romantic relationship development. I felt like it relied quite a bit on the past as well as the instant fated mates thing rather than developing a new relationship for them in the present. But in the end I did think they were cute together and I did find their chemistry eventually.
I do think it did a good job of redeveloping Robbie's connection to the entire pack though. I think that was more of the focus over the romantic relationship which was part of the plot a little bit more too.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than the previous one and I'm very interested in seeing how the next one goes.
Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
This book was not good from the get-go. It immediately drops you into the plot without any world building or even introduction to the characters so I felt like I was running to catch up with everything that was happening only to find that it never gives us that world building at all. The characters were bland and the fmc was almost contradictory in her development. The romance is definitely the focal point of this story but not even that is good. There is no tension between the two characters who are supposed to be enemies and any banter they had was cliche and boring. And don't even get me started about that scene in prison like come on. I almost wanted to finish it just so I can feel justified in my hatred of it, but I decided to love myself instead.
Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this book. I still don't like the surprise pregnancy trope, but did really like these two characters together and I think it worked for them.
I loved the disability representation here as well. The author's note said that she had the same disability that the FMC does so I loved that she felt comfortable exploring that in this book and it made the character's struggles and feeling feel more authentic to me as a reader who doesn't know what it's like to have those struggles. I loved learning about it and watching Win learn to trust herself and love all of herself throughout this book was beautiful.
I also really enjoyed the side characters here as well. Caleb and Sarah felt real and whole even though the story wasn't about them. She even managed to make the other not-so-present side characters feel real like Walter and Kevin and the other DND players. I liked all of their personalities and was interested in all of their lives as well.
But mostly, I just loved the chemistry between our two main characters. Their banter was so witty and funny. I caught myself laughing out loud a couple of times at work and then hoping no one noticed. I liked their quiet support of one another and the way they always made each other feel seen and appreciated. And I loved that Bo taught Win what it's like to be loved fully rather than despite her disability. They were truly a beautiful couple.
I will say that despite the fact that this book is about getting knocked up, this is an incredibly slow burn romance.They didn't even get together until nearly the very end of the book. I think I only had like 2 hours left of the audio when they finally talked about their feelings again. So definitely don't expect this to be quick and easy. But I do think it was necessary for it to be slower just because of the situation and what the characters were going through. And I enjoy slow burn romances. It lets the fluff shine through which I love even more than the smut usually.
Anyway, I think this was a really great romance story and I'm excited to try some more books from this author in the future.
I loved the disability representation here as well. The author's note said that she had the same disability that the FMC does so I loved that she felt comfortable exploring that in this book and it made the character's struggles and feeling feel more authentic to me as a reader who doesn't know what it's like to have those struggles. I loved learning about it and watching Win learn to trust herself and love all of herself throughout this book was beautiful.
I also really enjoyed the side characters here as well. Caleb and Sarah felt real and whole even though the story wasn't about them. She even managed to make the other not-so-present side characters feel real like Walter and Kevin and the other DND players. I liked all of their personalities and was interested in all of their lives as well.
But mostly, I just loved the chemistry between our two main characters. Their banter was so witty and funny. I caught myself laughing out loud a couple of times at work and then hoping no one noticed. I liked their quiet support of one another and the way they always made each other feel seen and appreciated. And I loved that Bo taught Win what it's like to be loved fully rather than despite her disability. They were truly a beautiful couple.
I will say that despite the fact that this book is about getting knocked up, this is an incredibly slow burn romance.
Anyway, I think this was a really great romance story and I'm excited to try some more books from this author in the future.
Nothing Like The Movies by Lynn Painter
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Another super sweet one from Lynn Painter. I just love how she writes fluff and how she always finds a great way to embarrass her characters. I always feel that second-hand embarrassment so poignantly and I love it so much. And then she always has me giggling and kicking my feet during the fluffy romantic scenes as well.
I remember really liking Wes and Liz in the first book so I definitely wanted to try this one out too. I kind of wish I had reread the first one so I could remember it a little better, but it really wasn't an issue at all, so if someone hadn't read the first one and decided to pick this one up, I don't think they would be too confused.
This book also had the added benefit of not leaving all of the romantic buildup and chemistry to rely on their past which I appreciated. A lot of second-chance romances have this issue and I'm glad that there was actual chemistry, good banter, and fluffy romance in every scene in this book. Wes and Liz are still so adorable and I truly believe they will find their way to each other no matter what.
That being said, I did not like that Wes decided to choose for Liz and took himself out of her life, but I'm glad that was actually noted in the book and was one of the issues Liz had with what happened. It's important that he learned that he can't just decide things for her without including her in those decisions, so I'm glad that was put into the plot here.
Again, this was such a cute romance and I will continue to devour anything that Painter writes.
I remember really liking Wes and Liz in the first book so I definitely wanted to try this one out too. I kind of wish I had reread the first one so I could remember it a little better, but it really wasn't an issue at all, so if someone hadn't read the first one and decided to pick this one up, I don't think they would be too confused.
This book also had the added benefit of not leaving all of the romantic buildup and chemistry to rely on their past which I appreciated. A lot of second-chance romances have this issue and I'm glad that there was actual chemistry, good banter, and fluffy romance in every scene in this book. Wes and Liz are still so adorable and I truly believe they will find their way to each other no matter what.
That being said, I did not like that Wes decided to choose for Liz and took himself out of her life, but I'm glad that was actually noted in the book and was one of the issues Liz had with what happened. It's important that he learned that he can't just decide things for her without including her in those decisions, so I'm glad that was put into the plot here.
Again, this was such a cute romance and I will continue to devour anything that Painter writes.
The Wicked King by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is actually a perfect example of what a second book in a trilogy is supposed to be. It's meant to set things up for the end so it'll be a little bit of a waiting game at first and then it'll have a great twist at the end to make you want to read the rest of the series and this book didn't disappoint.
I read Onyx Storm at the beginning of this month and I kept thinking that this is what that book was trying to do but where OS failed, this one definitely succeeded.
The beginning here was slower, getting us set into the story again, reacquainted with the characters and what's happening since it's set 5 months after the first book. It was great because I read the first one two months ago and I have a terrible memory so I didn't remember everything that happened. I was definitely someone who needed the reminders that were put in this book so I appreciated them.
There was some waiting around but it didn't feel like it dragged on and on because the things that did happen were continuous and engaging. And then we hit the point where everything started rolling. It was one thing after the next and I was fully immersed in everything that was happening.
I loved the relationship development in this one too. You could see Jude and Carden getting closer and I could tell that they were beginning to trust each other and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and for them to run from that the whole time. I knew the moment that it happened too. It was so well done with the connections. I could pinpoint the exact moment Carden started forming his plans in his head and everything changed. It was so good.
I will say that because of all of this, I naturally guessed the big twist, but it was so in character that I didn't mind at all. It was just beautiful to watch it play out.
Unfortunately my library doesn't have the third book so now I have to wait until I can actually get the series to finish it, but I definitely plan on doing that in the future.
I read Onyx Storm at the beginning of this month and I kept thinking that this is what that book was trying to do but where OS failed, this one definitely succeeded.
The beginning here was slower, getting us set into the story again, reacquainted with the characters and what's happening since it's set 5 months after the first book. It was great because I read the first one two months ago and I have a terrible memory so I didn't remember everything that happened. I was definitely someone who needed the reminders that were put in this book so I appreciated them.
There was some waiting around but it didn't feel like it dragged on and on because the things that did happen were continuous and engaging. And then we hit the point where everything started rolling. It was one thing after the next and I was fully immersed in everything that was happening.
I loved the relationship development in this one too. You could see Jude and Carden getting closer and I could tell that they were beginning to trust each other and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and for them to run from that the whole time. I knew the moment that it happened too. It was so well done with the connections. I could pinpoint the exact moment Carden started forming his plans in his head and everything changed. It was so good.
I will say that because of all of this, I naturally guessed the big twist, but it was so in character that I didn't mind at all. It was just beautiful to watch it play out.
Unfortunately my library doesn't have the third book so now I have to wait until I can actually get the series to finish it, but I definitely plan on doing that in the future.
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I'm going to be honest, I didn't enjoy this one, especially in the first half.
To start, this book is dual POV, but you don't get that second POV until half way through the book. It's split almost exactly down the middle and I found that REALLY jarring. The first half was in Theo's POV and then where the narrative lands at for the change isright after Kit kisses them for the first time again and it really sucked because I wanted to get Theo's reaction to that but instead we completely shift everything. It changes POV and goes back in time for a little bit and then when the narrative comes back to the present, it's not even right after that event, it's like the next day. I was so disoriented and frankly frustrated that I almost DNF'd the book right there.
That being said, I did actually enjoy Kit's POV better than Theo's. I'm not sure if I liked the voice better - the pining - or the events of the story itself. I felt like the two started actually growing closer during the second half of the book and I felt that a lot more then too. The first half was almost boring and I didn't see any chemistry between them. It was so bad that I didn't understand why Theo even realized that they were still in love with Kit because I didn't see anything growing between them or igniting that. The second half started actually giving them more interactions and chemistry so that helped me get through to the end.
Now I'm going to talk about the audiobook itself. At the beginning of every "chapter" (the book is split up so that every place they visit is a new chapter in the book) it would play some instrumental music that I'm guessing is native to that place (?). The first time it happened I was so confused because usually there's only instrumental music at the beginning and end of a book so I thought I had somehow skipped to the end but I didn't. It took a little getting used to, but I think it was a cool idea overall.
In the end, I think this book just didn't really work for me which was disappointing because I did enjoy McQuiston's other works.
To start, this book is dual POV, but you don't get that second POV until half way through the book. It's split almost exactly down the middle and I found that REALLY jarring. The first half was in Theo's POV and then where the narrative lands at for the change is
That being said, I did actually enjoy Kit's POV better than Theo's. I'm not sure if I liked the voice better - the pining - or the events of the story itself. I felt like the two started actually growing closer during the second half of the book and I felt that a lot more then too. The first half was almost boring and I didn't see any chemistry between them. It was so bad that I didn't understand why Theo even realized that they were still in love with Kit because I didn't see anything growing between them or igniting that. The second half started actually giving them more interactions and chemistry so that helped me get through to the end.
Now I'm going to talk about the audiobook itself. At the beginning of every "chapter" (the book is split up so that every place they visit is a new chapter in the book) it would play some instrumental music that I'm guessing is native to that place (?). The first time it happened I was so confused because usually there's only instrumental music at the beginning and end of a book so I thought I had somehow skipped to the end but I didn't. It took a little getting used to, but I think it was a cool idea overall.
In the end, I think this book just didn't really work for me which was disappointing because I did enjoy McQuiston's other works.