taylorhathcock's reviews
444 reviews

The good news is this can be read as a stand alone and you don't really miss any huge plot points. I just really struggled with this book, I feel like it took me forever to read. The plot didn't really move very quickly, and the book is incredibly long. I mean like about 300 pages too long. Avery ends up a hostage through a case of mistaken identity and then we get this insanely long time of her as a captive when it feels like not much happens at all. Avery and Cam develop a back and forth that has a lot of tension and banter, which was nice. I felt like so many times the story could have sped up or it would start to feel like something was happening and then we went back to the slower speed. I just feel like this book would have been so much better if it had been shorter and forced to get to the action points of the story faster. 

This book was amazing. The characters were perfection. I mean each of them was so perfectly flawed and haunted. I loved that it started off with the dark gothic vibe from the start. I have to say I really enjoyed the past/present timeline in the story. It was honestly fascinating the way the author used it to reveal pieces of information. It was also really cool to get the overarching witch story that played out in segments throughout. I would have loved more of that narrative just because it was fascinating.

It's hard to determine a piece of the story I loved most. I think that overall it was beautifully written. You feel for each of the characters and you start to think you've figured something out... only for the reveals to prove that you didn't have a clue what you were talking about. It had some seriously dark moments when I was on the edge of my seat about how things would play out. I have to say this is one of those stories that kept me invested from start to finish. I honestly didn't see the end coming and the magic in the story is beautifully subtle. 

I enjoyed this book a lot it is a perfect October cozy fantasy. Kiela is probably the most relatable character when it comes to books. The way the book throws in her aversion to people and preference for books like every other page is comical and also accurate. I think this book stands better as just a fantasy. I felt like it was more focused on Kiela learning to let people in and opening herself up to caring about the people in her hometown, who turn out to be the perfect little found family. The romance element to me honestly just felt like a side plot. Kiela and Larran just seemed like neighbors for most of the story, until we randomly throw in some scenes to hint at romance. I feel like if you think this one is going to be a romance you will be a bit disappointed as the romance is a super small part of the story. 

 The book has some amazing characters and honestly the side characters really help make this book great. Caz, the sentient spider plant, is probably the funniest and snarkiest character I think I've read in a long time. I loved the variety of magical creatures that ended up in the story. I would have loved a little bit more focus on magic but I think overall it works out to be a fun cozy story that makes you laugh but I didn't find myself super emotionally involved in the story or the characters, which was a bit of a bummer. 

This book... I have to say that normally I find myself disappointed in the current trending books, but this one delivered. I mean it's got all the morally grey you could love, forced proximity, a game which can literally end in death or a demon bargin, magic, and oh yeah a forbidden romance. It is a slow burn but the banter and tension leading up are more than worth it. Blackwell is everything. He was perhaps one of my favorite characters in a long time. I truly loved this story and the gothic vibes it had. I mean not to mention a necromancer/phantom romance was everything I didn't know I needed in life. The tension and banter is so well done. I think this book had so many great things about it and it easily sweeps you into the story and you don't want to put it down. I admit it was the first time in a while that I was fully prepared for a whole series, knowing I'd have a cliffhanger... however, this book doesn't. I wanted more of Ophelia and Blackwell's story. I will admit that I also wished we had a little bit more explanation for some of the demon/magic stuff but overall this was probably one of my favorite reads this year.

I am just going to be completely upfront I still have absolutely no idea what this book was about. I think it was a super slow start and a lot of the start focused on details that didn't seem to have anything at all to do with the big story. I think we got more detail about the different rooms they had at the inn than we needed. The book is really centered on the way Elise feels inferior to her friends and the ways she lets this impact the dynamics between them. Once the story starts and the horror dynamic begins to creep in we start to get some supernatural elements which are super cool and at times make you question whether or not Elise is losing her mind. However, then we shift to the body horror... which is well written don't get me wrong... it succeeds in creeping you out. I just have learned that me and body horror do not get along. 

 I wanted to like this book but it was honestly really hard. None of the characters are likeable really. The plot is super slow and at times feels like it goes off in some random direction. I wish more build up had been given to the spooky side of things. I also wish what happened to Julie had been explained in a way that made a bit more sense. I also think Elise makes it hard to enjoy this book because she is like this super bitter character who doesn't even seem to like any of her friends. I don't know I just struggled to stay into this one. Overall, this one just wasn't it for me. I do think body horror fans will get a kick out of it though. 

I am a sucker for anything that has Norse mythology included in it somewhere. So I jumped at the chance to read this one even though shifter romances aren't typically my thing. I have to say that it was a bit rough around the edges at times. I think that so many characters got a bit confusing at times. I enjoyed that Ylva was pretty independent and sarcastic she made for a great lead. The four men she ends up tied to are all so drastically different that it's interesting to see the dynamics play out. However, I think that a lot of the dynamics between them felt a bit rushed and thrown into the story whereas other elements were super drawn out. I feel like it started out with an attention grabber and then we get a bunch of stuff that isn't really important to plot before we throw in some plot again that is helpful to the story but rushed... and yet I was left still curious so I will be reading book two. 

I started this book because I needed something light hearted and fun after some darker/emotional reads and this book delivered. It was whimsical and funny. I truly loved that Finn has held this grudge against Lavender since he was like 17 and she has absolutely no idea. The ways that things continuously and outrageously go wrong in this book are perfect. The snark is on point. The main characters are good but I'm telling you it's the side characters that make this book. They really add to the humor and fun of the story. I enjoyed that Finn slowly begins to realize through all his payback attempts that Lavender isn't who he's made her out to be... and possibly not his villain origin story. 

 I really think this is a perfect book when you just need a breather from all the other stuff. It's one where you don't necessarily have to get emotionally invested and you can just laugh at the outrageous high jinks that ensue. If you are a sucker for grand gestures this book can provide that. Who doesn't love a good grumpy/sunshine dynamic? Oh and did I mention the pets? I really think the book is made better by the fact that only one character is aware that they are enemies. It adds an entire level of comedy to all the actions the characters take throughout. I think the book really delivers on all the feel good vibes you could ask for in a rom com. I honestly look forward to reading more by this author after this. 

I can't believe it's over but I think this book was the perfect conclusion to Auren's story. I have to admit that I was hooked from beginning to end and had to force myself to put it down so that I didn't finish it too quickly. I mean this book is 100% the culmination of five books worth of build-up and something is happening on literally every single page. I don't think this book has a dull moment. It has a lot of action, a ton of moments you didn't see coming, shock, surprise and of course plenty of emotional damage to go around. I honestly loved it so much. The ways this book destroyed me were beautiful and I loved how it always gave me something I wasn't expecting. 

We have all the characters we love and see so much of the growth they've made throughout the series. I don't think anything is as beautiful as the found family the characters have. I enjoyed seeing Malina and Auren's journey and how each grew into something fierce. Malina is perhaps one of my favorite characters (I know people don't like her, but she is so like Auren I think). Auren really becomes this force of nature in this book and I cannot tell you how hard I was rooting for her. The book doesn't ever let up and at times you are like how is anything left... and then bam.... So buckle up and have the tissues on standby.