tej_reads's reviews
722 reviews

Ali Hazelwood men worship the ground the FMC walk on.

Isabel Agajanians writing in Modern Divination is just magical, there's something so wonderful about the prose and how immersive it feels and yet I find myself wanting more - it felt like something was missing.

The first maybe 60-70% nothing happened, it's mainly talking about something happening, like when you have a meeting about having a meeting. The sheer annoyance I felt as I waited for something. Like yes, I do get that it was meant to add more depth to the character as we get a 'slice of life' as the go from a to b etc. but when you're waiting for 100+ pages something has to give.

I enjoyed much time we got to spend with both Aurelia and Teddy, but my issue was the 'academic rivals-to-lovers romance', again I felt like the basis of this rivalry was miscommunication. Aurelia had built her hatred of Teddy on a snide remark from four years ago, while Teddy had spent four years genuinely trying to know her. It felt so stupid, which in turn only added to making the whole will the won't they over 512 pages a drag instead of tension filled fun. And because of that I couldn't stand Aurelia, there were times where she made sense but a lot and I mean a lot of her inner monologue for the first 50% was just her pretending to be amicable with Teddy to find a weakness. She hated him because he had money and didn't suffer like her etc etc. It was whiny and for someone who hadn't bothered to get to know they guy beyond that one comment four years ago (which yeah wasn't great) but it didn't deserve all this. Like move on how are building your entire personality around hating a guy who doesn't even know why?

Overall, the writing is great but I just did not connect with Modern Divination in the way I wanted to.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan | Tor for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did not continue with this despite getting 45% in, at which point you'd think I'd finish it considering how far I'd come. I'm seeing the imagine to man digging for diamonds and turning away before the end but not here. I couldn't deal with Vivian I'm sorry but she isn't likeable and I totally understand that not every protagonist has to be likeable and the who complicated female charactes etc. But she's insufferable, she's arrogant and selfish and an idiot for someone supposedly so educated. I'm not rooting for her, I enjoyed when she wasn't on the page which I think says something when I like everyone but the main character and that fact that A Language of Dragons is in first person made the whole situation worse.

Thank you to Harper and Williamson for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm not at all sure how I feel about Blood of Hercules.

I think the author accomplished what they wanted, which is a non-serious, fun, romantasy adventure. The plot wasn't for me much of it didn't make sense and the writing style felt forced, as though Mas was trying too hard to create conversations/internal dialogue that was quirky and different. But it just made it cringey and uncomfortable and repetitive. The ideas were good but I think it could've done with better execution and more editing. There was far too much modern slang (tik tok language) for my taste especially in a fantasy book: "serving cunt", "slay" and "free the nips". I had no clue why half this stuff was included.  

The only saving grace were the audio book narrators Meg Sylvan, Teddy Hamilton, Tristan Morris and Aiden Snow were fantastic in bringing life to the story and the only reason why I thought it was worth finishing.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio, HarperVoyager and Jasmine Mas for Audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Accidentals by Guadalupe Nettel is a collection of eight short stories, that explore the actions of protagonists whose lives have been disrupted.

I enjoyed 'The pink door' which follows a man who rewinds time in search of a perfect life, but with every turn of the clock he finds himself unhappy compared to the previous life. And 'Playing with fire' where a family take a break in the outdoors during the lockdown, the family dynamics explored felt so realistic but also unsettling. The tension between the father and son, but the passiveness of the mother, it was all very raw.

Nettel has become a must read author for me and I've make a note to pick up Still Born, as soon as possible.

Thank you Fitzcarraldo Editions, Guadalupe Nettel and Rosalind Harvey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Cruel Thirst is a wonderful read! I had so much fun with it. 

Lalo is a recently turned vampiro who is searching for the first ever vampire and revenge. Lalo meets  Carolina on his journey, a young woman whose family are vampiro hunters but whose father will not let her join the family business. When Carolina and Lalo collide, they decide to work together, in a relationship of convenience.

Montoya writes such rich history, that pulls you in, from vampiro lore to Fuentes family history from 1562 to present. I loved the relationship between Lalo and Fernanda, and how they integrated seamlessly with Lina and Nena, a little found family.

Thank you to Black & White Publishing, Ink Road, Angela Montoya and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting perspective on information through the ages and the possible role of AI.  If I had to read the book I would find it dry, but the narrator made it interesting.

Thank you to Random House, Vintage for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great introductory read/listen, into AI and emerging technology. I think if you’ve already read into the topic as I have the content is going to feel familiar and almost repetitive but it was a nice refresh of information I already knew. Hence, the mixed review as it’s absolutely a solid listen but I wasn’t too sure on the aim of the book if it was meant to be an in-depth discussion as I was hoping a bit analytical than it is or a general overview which in my opinion it was. 

Overall, a solid listen which I enjoyed.

Thank you to Random House, and Vintage for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.