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celli_taylorsversion's reviews
193 reviews
The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The Bronzed Breasts is the last book in the Gilded Wolves series that mainly surrounds a heist, but it's more than that. This picks up right after The Silvered Serpents and (spoiler for the second book) we have just seen Severin betray all his friends. Grieving and struggling to regain his friends' trust, Severin is set apart from them in the romantic creaks of 1800s Venice, trying to find godhood. All this while the imminent and seemingly unavoidable death of Laila, whom his heart seems to continuously tug towards, looms above all five of them.
This series is often compared to Six of Crows because of the heist plotline and the group of characters and their dynamics. However, I think the first book in this series is best comparable to Six of Crows and ends there; the other books in this series are not as heist-y. Spoilers for the first two books, but honestly I enjoyed the first one the most because I could feel the Paris vibes and the romantic hotel vibes and the heist was entertaining and sneaky (the words I'm using sound very dumb and that's because this book was just VIBES, SEXUAL TENSION, AND PLOT). The other books in the series were still very beautiful but it seemed like most of the time they were either trapped underground or were trapped someplace else and they had no clue where they are. The visuals weren't giving if that makes sense. But The Bronzed Beasts was OOZING with sexual tension. When I tell you that that red cover is hot and enticing and just is the perfect representation of the hotness in this book, it's true!!! I also appreciated Roshani Chokshi's representing of Filipino culture and even going as far as (though it isn't very far, for literature mainly published in the west, it very much is) talking about Filipino mythology, having a scene set in Manila, and throwing in some day-to-day Filipino words. I felt seen. Lastly, I loved all the characters but I will say that my favorite is Enrique. Oh and that ending!! Very sweet and wholesome but depressing; reminds me of the ending of Clockwork Princess (iykyk)
P.S. Ruslan can rot in hell and Eva deserved better tbh
(Dress by Taylor Swift and Karma also by Taylor Swift are the songs of this series)
This series is often compared to Six of Crows because of the heist plotline and the group of characters and their dynamics. However, I think the first book in this series is best comparable to Six of Crows and ends there; the other books in this series are not as heist-y. Spoilers for the first two books, but honestly I enjoyed the first one the most because I could feel the Paris vibes and the romantic hotel vibes and the heist was entertaining and sneaky (the words I'm using sound very dumb and that's because this book was just VIBES, SEXUAL TENSION, AND PLOT). The other books in the series were still very beautiful but it seemed like most of the time they were either trapped underground or were trapped someplace else and they had no clue where they are. The visuals weren't giving if that makes sense. But The Bronzed Beasts was OOZING with sexual tension. When I tell you that that red cover is hot and enticing and just is the perfect representation of the hotness in this book, it's true!!! I also appreciated Roshani Chokshi's representing of Filipino culture and even going as far as (though it isn't very far, for literature mainly published in the west, it very much is) talking about Filipino mythology, having a scene set in Manila, and throwing in some day-to-day Filipino words. I felt seen. Lastly, I loved all the characters but I will say that my favorite is Enrique. Oh and that ending!! Very sweet and wholesome but depressing; reminds me of the ending of Clockwork Princess (iykyk)
P.S. Ruslan can rot in hell and Eva deserved better tbh
(Dress by Taylor Swift and Karma also by Taylor Swift are the songs of this series)
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In this short and sad love story we follow Landon who is sort of the bad boy type and the popular guy type. So as homecoming dance nears he finds himself without a date, and the only “decent” girl he could think of is Jamie Sullivan, the girl with a cardigan and a bun and always the bible in hand. She kindly accepts his offer for the dance. However, she makes him promise not to fall in love with her. Of course, like a sudden wave of feeling, he did.
Just not that I watched the movie before the book and I cried while watching it, but not while reading it. I did still feel sadness and it was just sweet overall. The love in this book is the kind of love that creeps onto you, the molasses love that runs so slowly but is so thick and sweet that you can’t help but get a sting at the back of your throat after. I love Jamie. In school I normally am shy to be seen reading a book while everyone is on their phones, but I think I should now because of her. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter. But back to the book, I loved it so much.
Just not that I watched the movie before the book and I cried while watching it, but not while reading it. I did still feel sadness and it was just sweet overall. The love in this book is the kind of love that creeps onto you, the molasses love that runs so slowly but is so thick and sweet that you can’t help but get a sting at the back of your throat after. I love Jamie. In school I normally am shy to be seen reading a book while everyone is on their phones, but I think I should now because of her. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter. But back to the book, I loved it so much.