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readundancies's reviews
1614 reviews
From Below by Darcy Coates
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
The structure of this story is not what I anticipated, and I am not in the mood for it.
That’s literally it.
That’s literally it.
A LOSS AT LONGBOURN: A PRIDE & PREJUDICE VARIATION by Catherine Bilson
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
All I Want is You by Falon Ballard
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Easily the weakest story I’ve read by this author.
I wasn’t invested in the characters, the pace was uncomfortably fast such that the lack of character development and backstory really became pronounced, and I just didn’t believe in the romance or chemistry between the leads at all.
Genuinely a disappointment.
Perhaps Falon Ballard is simply not for me.
I wasn’t invested in the characters, the pace was uncomfortably fast such that the lack of character development and backstory really became pronounced, and I just didn’t believe in the romance or chemistry between the leads at all.
Genuinely a disappointment.
Perhaps Falon Ballard is simply not for me.
Mistletoe Ever After by Nana Malone
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The synopsis and title are doing a lot of exaggerating when it comes to the truth of what this book is about.
Because enemies is definitely too strong of a word for how Flo and Jamie feel about one another at the beginning of the story. And Flo spending most of the novel in an anxiety-induced spiral of self-doubt that has permeated her life since her mental breakdown did not inspire feelings of over-achievement.
But I digress.
It was fast-paced, very underwhelming in the smut department considering all of the angst that existed between the two leads, and felt very YA in tone so much so that it wouldn’t really take a lot of tweaking outside of putting all the characters in a high school setting for this to be reclassified as a YA romance.
Nothing about it really stands out, which is fine, but that means I can’t in good conscience recommend it to anyone.
Because enemies is definitely too strong of a word for how Flo and Jamie feel about one another at the beginning of the story. And Flo spending most of the novel in an anxiety-induced spiral of self-doubt that has permeated her life since her mental breakdown did not inspire feelings of over-achievement.
But I digress.
It was fast-paced, very underwhelming in the smut department considering all of the angst that existed between the two leads, and felt very YA in tone so much so that it wouldn’t really take a lot of tweaking outside of putting all the characters in a high school setting for this to be reclassified as a YA romance.
Nothing about it really stands out, which is fine, but that means I can’t in good conscience recommend it to anyone.
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Execution on point, the length as a novella works but also allows for the imaginings of a fully-fledged novel, and the trope subversion with a time loop - that's a winner for me every time.
Sunshine and Spice by Aurora Palit
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
3.25
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked this way more than I thought I was going to purely because my expectations regarding YA fantasy are appropriately tempered and the vampire lore that was constructed had such a different take on vampires within the subgenre that I can say with some satisfaction that I have not encountered before.
There was proper enemies-to-lovers with all of the expected explosive sexual tension and it was a lot more nuanced and effectively believable compared to how YA novels typically depict that trope.
I liked the worldbuilding but still think it could be further developed.
And I found a lot of the relationship dynamics to be inconsistent - the romance was good if a bit less fleshed out than anticipated based on how strong the lead characters are depicted, but the friendships were quite weak in contrast and seemed more convenient than anything substantial.
The sibling dynamics were also tackled in a manner that I understood with respect to Kidan and the importance it held in her and how it impacted her choices in terms of her conduct and the overall plot, but I didn't quite feel the attachment between the sisters. It remains to be seen how their relationship will be translated and developed in the sequel as we will actually be able to get physical interactions between the sisters as opposed to a one-sided perspective in Kidan.
I'm definitely engaged enough to continue with the series, and will be reserving a library copy for my perusal upon it's release.
There was proper enemies-to-lovers with all of the expected explosive sexual tension and it was a lot more nuanced and effectively believable compared to how YA novels typically depict that trope.
I liked the worldbuilding but still think it could be further developed.
And I found a lot of the relationship dynamics to be inconsistent - the romance was good if a bit less fleshed out than anticipated based on how strong the lead characters are depicted, but the friendships were quite weak in contrast and seemed more convenient than anything substantial.
The sibling dynamics were also tackled in a manner that I understood with respect to Kidan and the importance it held in her and how it impacted her choices in terms of her conduct and the overall plot, but I didn't quite feel the attachment between the sisters. It remains to be seen how their relationship will be translated and developed in the sequel as we will actually be able to get physical interactions between the sisters as opposed to a one-sided perspective in Kidan.
I'm definitely engaged enough to continue with the series, and will be reserving a library copy for my perusal upon it's release.
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The world-building was less than impressive, the characterization was fine, but nothing beyond satisfactory, and the tropes and motifs that were explored, especially the idea of the Seven Deadly Sins, didn't really do anything novel.
And yet, it was pretty accessible in spite of the NA content which didn't do much for me on a spice level.
I'm intrigued enough to make a library hold for the sequel when it releases.
And yet, it was pretty accessible in spite of the NA content which didn't do much for me on a spice level.
I'm intrigued enough to make a library hold for the sequel when it releases.
Somewhere Along the Line by Mallory Thomas
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75