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cluckieduck's reviews
289 reviews
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
dark
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Well, I must say the hype was well deserved for this one!
I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed the slow burn relationship that took years (actual years!).
Was a bit apprehensive about the cannibalism TW, but I must say it was done…tastefully ;) and the comedic tilt certainly helped!
I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed the slow burn relationship that took years (actual years!).
Was a bit apprehensive about the cannibalism TW, but I must say it was done…tastefully ;) and the comedic tilt certainly helped!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Alcohol
How to Be a Climate Optimist: Blueprints for a Better World by Chris Turner
Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
Had it been written in more accessible language, I may have been able to finish, but it’s too dry and academic.
Shots and Barbs by Lily Mayne
Anita is a great FMC - strong-willed, competent, and caring. I also appreciated the IBS rep without it being a defining character trait! The way she was able to balance Nuni, and both finding equal support with one another was really enjoyable - they were a perfect match.
I also really enjoyed getting to spend some more time with with extended var Rorik family, especially seeing the relationship Nuni has with Laki. Very much looking forward to their upcoming book. I'm glad that Nuni & Greid got to air their stuff, though it did seem to wrap up a little too nicely. Also really digging this trend away from 3rd act break-ups - keep it going please!
All in all, a great continuation of the series and can't wait to see where it goes next!
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.25
I was so happy to revisit the Deep Earth Dating world. Lily has a great knack for world-building within her series and she has certainly found the recipe for creating characters that you want to root for.
Pooni Nuni was such an unlikable character in book 1, but the way Lily was able to flesh out his backstory and show his growth throughout this one made him an endearing lead. While I don't know if the juxtaposition between how Nuni handled his anxiety (Mr. highly regimented perfectionist) compared to Greid (softboi stoner) influenced me, I felt that I didn't connect with Nuni as a MMC as much as I did Greid. That's not to say he wasn't enjoyable, because he certainly was, I think that's just a personal preference of mine.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Nuni & Anita, and reading their ever-evolving competitiveness was fun. And the snark was top notch!
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Nuni & Anita, and reading their ever-evolving competitiveness was fun. And the snark was top notch!
I bet he swaggered, as if his enormous dick was throwing him off balance.
Anita is a great FMC - strong-willed, competent, and caring. I also appreciated the IBS rep without it being a defining character trait! The way she was able to balance Nuni, and both finding equal support with one another was really enjoyable - they were a perfect match.
"Nuni, you do know they're not up there specifically worshipping you, right?"
"I know," I shot back defensively. "But it's like...I'm like the demiurgus version of that old Italian statue of a human dude. You know? The ideal or whatever. I'm probably what they're all up there imagining as the ultimate demiurgus specimen."
"This is starting to feel like I need to contact your family for an intervention."
I also really enjoyed getting to spend some more time with with extended var Rorik family, especially seeing the relationship Nuni has with Laki. Very much looking forward to their upcoming book. I'm glad that Nuni & Greid got to air their stuff, though it did seem to wrap up a little too nicely. Also really digging this trend away from 3rd act break-ups - keep it going please!
All in all, a great continuation of the series and can't wait to see where it goes next!
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
Soft Flannel Hank by Eliza MacArthur
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was...ok, I guess, but I found myself getting easily annoyed by the decisions made by the characters in this one. If you find the miscommunication trope grating - I beg you to turn around right now and run the other way, because this is chock-a-block with miscommunications around every corner and it gets old real, real fast, and all the build-up to the climax was such a let down in the end.
I must admit, I was drawn to this one by the cover and title in the hopes that there was some deeper meaning. There's not. Other than the fact that Hank is, indeed, quite soft emotionally. I appreciated reading about a broken MMC trying to put the pieces back together, and doing so quite messily. Reading other reviews that mention the Twilight dad fanfic parallels - I didn't grasp that while reading (thankfully), so it didn't influence my enjoyment. Esther was not as fully fleshed out, and I don't believe she experienced any character growth outside of her very stubborn, do-it-herself-without-trusting-her-witchy-instincts, which is unfortunate.
The best thing about this one is the chemistry between Hank & Esther, but how dare she tease us with one of the most combustible intimate scenes so early on and then let the slow-burn burn hard!
The world-building itself could have used some greater development as well. It felt like she just threw PNR stuff in a blender rather than creating a polished, fleshed-out setting. The side characters were intriguing, but some of the written-out accents were jarring to read. Just tell me they're Irish or Scottish, I don't need a dinnae or ken or verra thrown in to remind me of their background.
All in all, entertaining but underwhelming.
I must admit, I was drawn to this one by the cover and title in the hopes that there was some deeper meaning. There's not. Other than the fact that Hank is, indeed, quite soft emotionally. I appreciated reading about a broken MMC trying to put the pieces back together, and doing so quite messily. Reading other reviews that mention the Twilight dad fanfic parallels - I didn't grasp that while reading (thankfully), so it didn't influence my enjoyment. Esther was not as fully fleshed out, and I don't believe she experienced any character growth outside of her very stubborn, do-it-herself-without-trusting-her-witchy-instincts, which is unfortunate.
The best thing about this one is the chemistry between Hank & Esther, but how dare she tease us with one of the most combustible intimate scenes so early on and then let the slow-burn burn hard!
The world-building itself could have used some greater development as well. It felt like she just threw PNR stuff in a blender rather than creating a polished, fleshed-out setting. The side characters were intriguing, but some of the written-out accents were jarring to read. Just tell me they're Irish or Scottish, I don't need a dinnae or ken or verra thrown in to remind me of their background.
All in all, entertaining but underwhelming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Violence, Grief, and Stalking
Minor: Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
12 year old me would have been absolutely enamoured with this book and would have obsessed about being great friends with Percy, Annabeth and Grover. 36 year old me has some issues with the dialogue and character descriptions (SO MANY ugly things). I’ve already started watching the new Disney+ series and appreciate the changes that have been made to the story.
But overall it’s a fun little romp - a very easy read and a great way to pique an interest in Greek mythology. I’m interested to see how Percy and his powers develop and where the story goes from here.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and War
The Stone Wolf's Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Eh, I liked it more than some of the others in this series, but there's nothing that makes Wrenlee & Clay a standout couple for me.
It's a fairly mild rejection / grovel, I'm going to guess because it's only novella length so there wasn't much time to get into something more detailed. I think if this was a full-length story I might have felt more connected to the couple as well.
It's a fairly mild rejection / grovel, I'm going to guess because it's only novella length so there wasn't much time to get into something more detailed. I think if this was a full-length story I might have felt more connected to the couple as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Run Posy Run by Cate C. Wells
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Eh, mafia just isn’t my jam, but I needed this for a book challenge. Cate C. Wells is a hit or miss author for me and this one, I’m afraid, was a miss.
Look, I love a good psychopath lead - they’re hard to write and make compelling enough that you root for their HEA, but there’s something about Dario that I didn’t enjoy or connect with. He’s the wet blanket of psychopaths. Posy was meh.
And wth was up with that last chapter?!? So OTT. Epilogue was cute though.
Look, I love a good psychopath lead - they’re hard to write and make compelling enough that you root for their HEA, but there’s something about Dario that I didn’t enjoy or connect with. He’s the wet blanket of psychopaths. Posy was meh.
And wth was up with that last chapter?!? So OTT. Epilogue was cute though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
All The Feels by Olivia Dade
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Profoundly irked by the lack of pegging!
Overall enjoyable…more good than bad, I’d say.
Definitely some problematic elements, especially surrounding the intense focus on Lauren’s appearance that didn’t let up from page 1 right through to the end of the epilogue. I also found Alex a bit infantile for a 39-year old and I don’t know if that was the best way to show his ADHD. Being a “delightful asshole” came across more grating than endearing at times.
But otherwise, I enjoyed the crossover timeline from Spoiler Alert and how they interconnected. I really liked the slow burn of Alex & Lauren’s relationship, plus the extra tidbits of the fanfics and playing up the romantic tropes on their road trip.
Overall enjoyable…more good than bad, I’d say.
Definitely some problematic elements, especially surrounding the intense focus on Lauren’s appearance that didn’t let up from page 1 right through to the end of the epilogue. I also found Alex a bit infantile for a 39-year old and I don’t know if that was the best way to show his ADHD. Being a “delightful asshole” came across more grating than endearing at times.
But otherwise, I enjoyed the crossover timeline from Spoiler Alert and how they interconnected. I really liked the slow burn of Alex & Lauren’s relationship, plus the extra tidbits of the fanfics and playing up the romantic tropes on their road trip.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-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 WANT THIS MADE INTO A TV SERIES RIGHT NOW!!
What an absolutely delightful read! This book was not even on my radar, but when I had to fill a reading challenge slot with "time looping," this one came highly recommended, and with good reason.
College-aged characters are becoming more grating to my cranky, ageing sensibilities 🤣, but both Barrett & Miles were endearing in their ways, separately and together as their relationship grew, and they were oh-so relatable. Their insecurities and idiosyncrasies were realistic and I was rooting for both of them as they stumbled around trying to redefine their identities against their high-school selves all while trying to break free from the time-loop situation.
Cute, fun, and lovely. What more can I say!
What an absolutely delightful read! This book was not even on my radar, but when I had to fill a reading challenge slot with "time looping," this one came highly recommended, and with good reason.
College-aged characters are becoming more grating to my cranky, ageing sensibilities 🤣, but both Barrett & Miles were endearing in their ways, separately and together as their relationship grew, and they were oh-so relatable. Their insecurities and idiosyncrasies were realistic and I was rooting for both of them as they stumbled around trying to redefine their identities against their high-school selves all while trying to break free from the time-loop situation.
Cute, fun, and lovely. What more can I say!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Nepenthe by Octavia Hyde
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
So much wasted potential with this one!
First, let’s jump right outta the gate with raping a dying woman and call it dub-con. That is straight up non-con. Ew.
My biggest gripe though is that this novella is split into three vignettes which doesn’t allow for any expansion or development of the human or Nepenthe characters. The story just doesn’t…go anywhere. The characters meet, they have sex, then it moves onto the next couple. What happens to them after?? Where are they going? How are the eggs doing? Are they going to be actual couples or are the women just incubators?? Even though I’m asking these questions, I don’t actually care about any of them because we didn’t get anything of value for any of them. 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼
First, let’s jump right outta the gate with raping a dying woman and call it dub-con. That is straight up non-con. Ew.
My biggest gripe though is that this novella is split into three vignettes which doesn’t allow for any expansion or development of the human or Nepenthe characters. The story just doesn’t…go anywhere. The characters meet, they have sex, then it moves onto the next couple. What happens to them after?? Where are they going? How are the eggs doing? Are they going to be actual couples or are the women just incubators?? Even though I’m asking these questions, I don’t actually care about any of them because we didn’t get anything of value for any of them. 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Injury/Injury detail