readundancies's reviews
1683 reviews

This is technically a cozy romance, but what it really is, is a soft romance.

And it’s beautiful. I loved the slow burn buildup between Aiden and Lucie; the way Aiden clearly fell first but buried his head in the sand and how Lucie surrounded herself with her love for others until she was so suffocated beneath that love for others that she had to be forced to learn to love herself enough to allow someone else to do it.

I loved the writing, the clear homage to Sleepless in Seattle but kind of a more modern take, the honesty and genuine sense of hope that permeated from each page of the radio show, the nostalgia that felt built into the characters. 

I especially loved how I absolutely adored every single relationship that was in this story. In fact, the only reason I can’t justify a full 5-stars is because I needed a little bit more from the female best-friendship in Patty and Lucie. It felt like the weakest connection in the story because there just wasn’t enough page time to really settle into, but I still liked what I saw.

The pace was slow but sedate, and it never felt like it was dragging. At just under 450 pages I genuinely could have done with more, and that’s rare for a romance with me as I tend to find they can feel bloated when conflict becomes repetitive just for the sake of drama.

I’ve not come across a romance that I’ve enjoyed as much as this one in quite a while, but you can bet I’ll be checking out more of B.K. Borison in the future because I adored this one.

I’ve read a decent number of P&P variations by Alix James, and what I’ve learned about her writing is that she tends to shine with her high plot stories.

This one is the perfect example of that - the characters are true to their original counterparts despite having very different circumstances in which they initially meet with one another and the plot stays engaging without becoming overly dramatic.

The overall lack of Bennets was welcome, Georgiana’s subplot was rather lacklustre considering she only appeared maybe twice, and I enjoyed how Darcy and Lizzy were forced to work with one another in order to become acquainted enough to fall in love, even though it was overly contrived with ease.

I’m not sure how re-read worthy this variation is, but I still enjoyed my time with it and would not deter anyone from picking it up.

This was just pure straight good vibes.

I didn’t connect with the characters but I still liked them. I didn’t love the romance but it made sense. I didn’t completely agree with how things ended, but the ending was everything I needed from the story as a whole. 

The sibling dynamics were solid, the family ones were complicated but still heartfelt and meaningful and the romance between Nami and Jae just worked so well for them as a couple. It was cute as heck even though I didn’t wish it for it myself.

Not sure why this is rated so lowly because this definitely has an audience and I hope it finds it.

There is nothing that makes me madder than stakes that don’t matter in a story. And this story, is basically the epitome of that.

So yeah. I hated this. Like I’m fucking fuming right now about how much I dislike the fact that I decided to pick this up and then finish it.

I should’ve DNF’d it, thought it would maybe make it to the 2-star point but no, I can’t justify it.

This is the cast of Pride and Prejudice set in the plot of A Cinderella Story. Like to a T.

And while I love me a good mashup story, it takes a special combo of stories and the right writer to make one shine.

This one was just okay.

There's no Wickham, Mary plays a very minimalist role to Kitty's somewhat redeemable one, and all in all, it was what I expected. 

Barely enough backstory, far too much gore, and absolutely no rhyme or reason to the h8 that was created, and I love it for that.

Is it just me wishing that the intrusive thoughts had taken Abe over at the end though? I feel like it could’ve perpetuated the myth behind the license plate which would’ve really worked for me.

Other than that, another winner from Nat Cassidy - I’m all aboard this hype train.

This was not my favourite historical romance romp, but I still enjoyed my time with it.

The characters were likeable enough and the romance was cute but the mystery felt a bit too contrived to be comfortable. And the fact that the whole Lydia-Davis confrontation was not elaborated upon at all outside of its impact as a major conflict coming to a head was genuinely disappointing for me.  Davis in general was a bit of a disappointment for me and the lack of fluidity in the pace of the novel at times was jarring.

So yeah, not sure I’ll be continuing with this series but I also wouldn’t turn anyone away from it as long you’re okay with the knowledge that this of not 5-star material.

Whoa Nelly was this a beast of book and it was FANTASTIC. 

By page 339, I was of the mind that this was a 5-star read. And it may actually be a 5-star read. Because I was having all the vibes with this book. All of them. But I’ve been hurt by books before, so I don’t feel comfortable committing to that because yeah, basically I don’t trust the trilogy as a whole yet. I need the sequel NOW in order to see how things play out because my rating could shift based on the overarching plot and its execution. 

The reveal at the end was predictable. I knew it was coming, but I also kinda wanted that result at the same time, so I'm not overly bothered by it. But I’m also not sure I feel about that. The hesitancy in me is what prevents this from being a 5-star read. I’m like 99% sold, but that 1% left is really holding its own. 

It is also quite slow paced. Which was fine for me - I was digging it. It allowed for so much background and groundwork to be placed in such an effortless way - truly, it was wonderful. The first 200 pages were very foundational but it was also very necessary for the plot. It took a moment to settle in with the pacing being as it was, but now I'm that finished the story, I see the need for it now that I’m done. 

I loved ALL of the characters. The characterization was on point, the relationships and how they evolved and were bent and utilized was brilliant. Grey especially has got a revenge backstory waiting to be unleashed and it just breeds heartache and betrayal in the best possible way. And Ren? Oh Ren. She’s calculating and quick and cold and I live for it. She is the con artist grifter of my dreams and I feel like I've been waiting forever to find a character like her and connect so hard. Vargo on the other hand, is still so mysterious and such an unknown factor, I can't wait to get to explore his backstory and motivations more fully in the sequel, especially if we get to see how Alsius and him began. 

Which brings me to the worldbuilding and the spectacular political manoeuvring and machinations in this. I loved all of it. It was just working for me, especially with how it all is interwoven with the plot and the characters. Once the magic system and all of its fantastical wonder starts being fully explored in the plot? It’s magnificent. I don't quite understand all of it between the numinatria and the patterning but it doesn't even matter because I believe it will all come together in the end. That's how much faith I have in this author duo. 

And the plot itself? Is just so well structured. The end of each Part (there are 4) packs a fucking punch, and each Part has its own kind of mini-arc in addition to pushing the main plot along. And it’s perfection. The further I got in this book, the more I fell for it, and very quickly was in awe of how much this plot was just DOING IT for me. It was such a web; there’s so many threads underlying and twisting and combining and knitting and just genuinely getting all tangled, but it’s all with the intent to come out with a finished product that I cannot wait for. 

Some thoughts of note that came to me towards the end of the novel: 

-

Are we going to get an explanation for how Sedge has distanced himself from Vargo and the Fox Spiders?

- Someone is going to die in the next book I’m gonna be really sad about it.
- I really don’t like Sibiliat and I really think that she’s going to play a major role in the sequel. And that upsets me. Because I don’t like her. But that also means Giuna will have a large role. She’s been groomed by Sibiliat for some reason that is yet to be seen.
- Just me waiting on Vargo’s backstory.
- Ren’s vulnerability lies in what she does not know. With respect to her heritage and father. And that is her major weakness, which I think (hope) will be explored the in the rest of the trilogy.
- Vargo’s perspective does not divulge much of his connection to the Acrenix family, and that irritates me.

I cannot wait for the sequel. I impulsively pre-ordered it before I had even finished this one and have no shame in admitting it. Because I can't seem to stop thinking about this book, and every time it creeps up in my thoughts and I find my self thinking about it, I just get all these warm and fuzzies flooding my soul. This book spoke to me on a spiritual level and just fed my soul with all of it.
 
I cannot recommend it enough if you're looking for compelling characters, all of the political machinations your heart could desire, and a city that is alive as much as its inhabitants as it thrives on both magic and lies.

This one is for the readers who love a good road trip book, some heavy forced proximity, emotional baggage - A LOT of it, wedding-centric romances, messy characters that need to find confidence within themselves and supportive friendship and family dynamics that still have conflicts.

It was a quick read, it was a cute read, and I had a fun time with it.