itslorei's reviews
1018 reviews

Took me a while to finish this due to college events, but here it is. I'm gonna make this as brief as possible because I feel like lately, my reviews are hella long.

Anyway, first things first, the writing: which was engaging and a smooth walkthrough for me. I enjoyed how easy it was to get through.

Other than that, I enjoyed how light it was, really perfect for the busy and stress mood I had the past few days or like the whole last week in general.

The characters were also quite good, in my opinion. They all did decently made their presence known, especially the few side characters, which I'm excited to know more about, hopefully in the next instalment. 

I think the romance could have been more beautiful, to be honest. I felt like it was a little bit in the dry part, but only a little. The spicy scene was quite good, though. I will give kudos to that.

I would also like to mention the grovelling one, which I would say was quick? There's not much grovelling there for my standards.

Overall, this was still a good read for me. It's definitely recommended if you like a light and a quick read.

Thank you, author, for the e-arc opportunity. 3.5⭐️

I was expecting a quick and fun read, but unfortunately, this was a miss for me.

I felt like the book really didn't give justice on the premise and tropes here. The same goes for the characters, which was undeveloped in my opinion and, at the same time, unlikeable. 

The writing also didn't help, and I really had the problem going through it. That's why I had the DNF it @55%. It's just not for me, and I think 55% is enough to stop considering how unlikeable the characters and the writing has been.

This is a very sad manga story, in my opinion. Main characters are somewhat abandoned or neglected by their parents. Both suffered a trauma as an aftermath.

The first volume is a solid introduction for the series. It piqued not just my interest but my most raw and fragile heart. 

11/10 would recommend 👌 

Thank you, Kodansha Comics, for the e-arc opportunity via Netgalley. 

Pretty interesting manga series. I think my only problem regarding this is the storytelling and its pacing. I would say I wasn't that hooked by the telling and showing of the story, so that pretty much set my feelings regarding it.

I would definitely still check out the next parts just to see how this goes.

Thank you, Viz Media, for the review copy via Edelweiss. 

“𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐧.”


WOW. This is probably one of the well written, intriguing, and compelling monster romances I've read ever since Kel Carpenter's Reject Me, which was a fave of mine.

Another thing I liked about this novel was the characters. All of them were a set of mystery, and I just couldn't help but be pulled into their characters. Other than the fact that they were likeable, they were characters that really marked their presence.

The pairing, obviously, it was a good execution. Nora and the Monster, which pairing I was more invested if I'm being honest, I really liked their dynamic more compared to Alec and Nora.

The smut here was also scorching 🤌🏽 Ihe manoeuvre of Alec and Monster's way of f*king was quite impressed and well done. And again, I'm more invested in the Monster's part 🙈

I also liked to mention the presentation of dissociative identity disorder, I think I could have likened it to Alec and the Monster's plot, which was also executed well.

Furthermore, I really enjoyed the historical setting or the boarding university setting. It really adds to that mysterious vibe to it.

I think my only issue is that The Hunt device wasn't more exposed or executed more here, I really wished that it was more laid out. Some characters were also not that used here despite the potential or the vital points they hold onto the plot, especially the Dean and the other professors, which I believed could have been better.

Anyway, it was still a really enjoyable and intriguing read for me 🤌🏽 This book might have just driven my reading slump away (I'm really hoping 🙏🏼)

If you are up for these, Nocturnal is for you ✨️

▪︎ Monster X Human
▪︎ Hate to Love 
▪︎ Boarding School
▪︎ Historical Setting
▪︎ Botany and Psychology 
▪︎ Knife, Blood, Bondage, Torture Play
▪︎ Drugging
▪︎ Sacrifice Ritual
▪︎ Murder

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Date Released: September 4, 2024
Date Read and Reviewed: November 20, 2024
Ratings: 4⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

I really want to like this. LIKE REALLY WANT TO. 

First things first, I really like the premise, there’s really a promise to the storyline and the writing is engaging and fast-paced. 

My main issue, which is the reason why I gave this a 2⭐️ is because of the FMC. I would say she's really unlikeable, immature, and dumb? I'm sorry for the word, but it's like that. There's really not much a solid development, in my opinion. 

Because of that, I couldn't care towards the romance, the FMC just ruined it for me.

Overall, I was really disappointed by the FMC, like this could have been better if the FMC was more developed and likeable. 

For some unknown reason, I'm quite intimidated to see so many 4 and 5 stars rating, and here I am rating this book 3 ⭐️


Things I like:

1. Teddy and Gus's dynamics as a grumpy and sunshine are really shown here. I would say it's not just on the surface level but is quite shown well. 

2. Gus and Teddy's interactions were pretty engaging, there's some parts that had me giggling, lol.

3. The individual walkthrough of the characters, specifically Teddy, dealing with grief and just life in general, was something that hurt me, and it was well presented to me.

4. The scenes with Riley were really wholesome to me.

5. I would also say the spice was spicy-ing here 🙈👌


Things I did not like:

1. I feel like the writing made it feel longer than it was. I  think at some point, I feel like the story was lagging or just straight too slow for me.

2.  I also feel like the romance here would do much better if it was a slow-burn? Unfortunately, it wasn't something like that here.

Overall, I think it was underwhelming and too slow for my liking? I'm pretty sure that the writing made it feel like that. I think I would have enjoyed it more if that wasn't the case. I still think it was a decent read and had it's moments especially the parts I liked.


Thanks for the free book, PRH International.

—----

Date Released: November 5, 2024
Date Read and Reviewed: November 15, 2024
Ratings: 3⭐️

This started so well, actually. I thought this was gonna be a full-blown mystery, enemies to lovers manga with strong leads, and well executed plot.

Although it did it good on compelling on the plot, the characters, on the other hand— specifically the leads, kind of disappointed a little bit, mainly because of how the romance went too quickly. 

I definitely would have enjoyed it if there was a slow burn type of a thing and explored more on the characters individually. Anyway, I still find them completely complex in their own ways.

Highlight also for this volume is Halvard, which completely surprised me. I'm excited to see more of his character.

The plot, on the other hand— overall, it was intriguing, there's so much potential that I can feel and see, especially on Freya's family, the murders. I'm definitely continuing this series 👌

Thank you, Kodansha Comics, for the e-arc via Netgalley. 

–-----
Date Released:  November 5, 2024
Date Read and Reviewed: November 9, 2024
Rstings: 4⭐️