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kinzo103's reviews
95 reviews
Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalco
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
While the first book clearly had a plot that could be followed, the second book started to slide away from the plot, and this book was the final stage in leaving the plot behind to read on and on about how powerful and mysterious Wrath could be, how powerful and cold Emilia could be, and how much sex they could have. A disappointing end to a trilogy that had a promising start.
Almost any and all character development was discarded to instead focus on Emilia’s constant, CONSTANT, waxing poetic about Wrath. Almost all the side characters appear just to serve the minimally developed plot line and then immediately disappear until they’re needed again.
To be clear, there is a plot and it can be followed, but it feels very much like an afterthought to the sex and relationship. It is rushed and conveniently pieced together, occasionally being forced back to the forefront to remind readers that there is supposed to be a point to this story.
There are two plot lines that never got resolved? Or maybe they did and I missed it because, like most plot elements of this book, they got one or two sentences and then we returned to how hot, powerful, and mysterious Wrath is.
I originally rated this book, then left it, had time to reflect, and came back to lower my rating. I wanted to love this and I absolutely didn’t.
Almost any and all character development was discarded to instead focus on Emilia’s constant, CONSTANT, waxing poetic about Wrath. Almost all the side characters appear just to serve the minimally developed plot line and then immediately disappear until they’re needed again.
To be clear, there is a plot and it can be followed, but it feels very much like an afterthought to the sex and relationship. It is rushed and conveniently pieced together, occasionally being forced back to the forefront to remind readers that there is supposed to be a point to this story.
There are two plot lines that never got resolved? Or maybe they did and I missed it because, like most plot elements of this book, they got one or two sentences and then we returned to how hot, powerful, and mysterious Wrath is.
I originally rated this book, then left it, had time to reflect, and came back to lower my rating. I wanted to love this and I absolutely didn’t.
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
There are large parts of this book that feel like they directly mirror their inspirations. It feels like a mix of Eragon, Zodiac Academy, Lord of the Rings, etc., all in one. Everything was very predictable.
That being said, even knowing what was coming and feeling like I’d seen all of this before, this book still ripped my heart out and stomped it into the ground.
So MUCH happens in this book, I almost can’t believe that this was all one book.
My largest complaint is that Violet is supposed to be like their chosen one, the savior, and the best mind of her generation, but she takes SO LONG to put essential information together and to figure out her emotional issues. I often wanted to reach into the book and smack her.
That being said, even knowing what was coming and feeling like I’d seen all of this before, this book still ripped my heart out and stomped it into the ground.
So MUCH happens in this book, I almost can’t believe that this was all one book.
My largest complaint is that Violet is supposed to be like their chosen one, the savior, and the best mind of her generation, but she takes SO LONG to put essential information together and to figure out her emotional issues. I often wanted to reach into the book and smack her.
Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I appreciate the way this book really brings the mystery into the story. Some of it was predictable but some of it, I really was not expecting.
I liked it less than the first book. There was so much going on so rapidly, it felt kind of clunky in its delivery. There were multiple parts where I had to go back and reread because I was confused on where the characters were or how much time had passed and I kept feeling like I was missing over skipping pieces that would keep the story more linear. By about 60% of the way through the book, I had just fully accepted that it felt a bit disjointed and kept moving.
Regardless, I do really like this story and I will absolutely be finishing the series.
I liked it less than the first book. There was so much going on so rapidly, it felt kind of clunky in its delivery. There were multiple parts where I had to go back and reread because I was confused on where the characters were or how much time had passed and I kept feeling like I was missing over skipping pieces that would keep the story more linear. By about 60% of the way through the book, I had just fully accepted that it felt a bit disjointed and kept moving.
Regardless, I do really like this story and I will absolutely be finishing the series.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved it, I don’t care that it’s a silly little shifter-vampire romance book, I LOVED IT. Lock me up, guilty as charged! The FMC is funny and self-deprecating in a way that isn’t super annoying and I want more!
Wildfire by Hannah Grace
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There’s something so special about taking side characters from the first book and making them the main characters of this book, and keeping the whole cast you already know and love.
The book pointedly worked around my least favorite part of romance books: miscommunication. I loved that the conversations felt more real because people weren’t being intentionally hard to communicate with as a plot device. The characters felt more real because they had some emotional intelligence. I have genuine love for all these characters, and I can’t wait for Henry’s story.
The book pointedly worked around my least favorite part of romance books: miscommunication. I loved that the conversations felt more real because people weren’t being intentionally hard to communicate with as a plot device. The characters felt more real because they had some emotional intelligence. I have genuine love for all these characters, and I can’t wait for Henry’s story.
The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This is a cute book. It’s a typical fake-dating romance with the expected miscommunication and cheesy-ness. I liked it, but it wasn’t anything we haven’t seen before.
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
There is so much I like about this book. The premise is great, the lore is good. There is a slow understanding of the world without too much info dumping. This was a completely unique story that used every single page to put things together, it didn’t feel predictable and actually kept things very puzzle-like all the way through.
My biggest problem with this book is that it feels so slow. There is so much build up for the majority of the book and it leaves so many questions that don’t get answered until the action starts more than halfway in. Once the action started I was zipping through it, but I had to drag myself through the first 200 pages.
Nevertheless, I will be reading the next book in the series because the bits and pieces of this story that finally come together in the end are too juicy to not keep going.
My biggest problem with this book is that it feels so slow. There is so much build up for the majority of the book and it leaves so many questions that don’t get answered until the action starts more than halfway in. Once the action started I was zipping through it, but I had to drag myself through the first 200 pages.
Nevertheless, I will be reading the next book in the series because the bits and pieces of this story that finally come together in the end are too juicy to not keep going.
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book to me into a magical world that I don’t want to leave. The story takes place on a magical island where the spirits of nature are alive and anthropomorphic, the way that fae are described in folklore. This setting felt very surreal and otherworldly while still being somewhere that I feel like I could stumble into accidentally.
There are so many good characters in this book, each with their own separate yet intertwined stories. I love how all their threads are interwoven, and there truly were some twists that I did not see coming. I had some guesses based on how predictable stories like this tend to be, and I was pleasantly surprised.
There are so many good characters in this book, each with their own separate yet intertwined stories. I love how all their threads are interwoven, and there truly were some twists that I did not see coming. I had some guesses based on how predictable stories like this tend to be, and I was pleasantly surprised.
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this exploration through women’s roles in crime: victim, aggressor, observer, enabler. I like the portrayal of the way society fears and seeks to confine strong, bold, inaccessible women. Though I find the promulgated idea of “genius” male serial killers tired and overused, it was nice to see a woman in this role. Still, do we really need to keep attributing genius to trauma?
I don’t know how I feel about the ghost element of this story, it felt a bit like a vehicle for information that the author didn’t know how to share otherwise. It did make for some heart-racing moments.
I don’t know how I feel about the ghost element of this story, it felt a bit like a vehicle for information that the author didn’t know how to share otherwise. It did make for some heart-racing moments.
The Sea King by C.L. Wilson
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The first book in this series was good but this one was even better. There were several moment where I could feel the gut-wrenching sadness or stomach-churning nervousness being expressed, something that was lacking in the first. I like that we still get to see the characters from the first story quite a bit and explore the world and lore of these stories even more in this book. Some very dark parts and some very typical “everything always works out in the seemingly impossible ways” parts that may feel like a bit too much of a happy ending, but who doesn’t love a happily ever after?
I will say that it felt likeSummer’s assault trauma got glossed over way too easily, as did her feelings about her sister’s death. And Dilys centers himself so much in conversations about Summer, it’s slightly maddening.
I will say that it felt like
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault