This is how I feel right now
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YES! Just YES!
That was exactly the ending I was hoping f*review copy provided by Penguin*
This is how I feel right now
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YES! Just YES!
That was exactly the ending I was hoping for. It was such a fun ride. I loved spending time with Damen and Laurent. All the answers were given, all the hidden truths revealed. The development of the relationships, the romance, the political plotting. I loved reading this book. I am so happy right now! I cant wait to read another book. I cant wait to find myself in a new story, that will hopefully make me as excited, happy and satisfied as this one did....more
This was definitely not the story I was expecting, it had many flaws, and yet I still really enjoyed it. Which i2.5/5 *review copy provided by Penguin*
This was definitely not the story I was expecting, it had many flaws, and yet I still really enjoyed it. Which is why at the time of writing this, Ive already read the second book.
So, when I briefly looked up this book, I found: -People seem to love it/lots of positive reviews -is a fantasy -has an intense romance between two princes.
What I was not expecting, was the erotica/bdsm vibes of the story. I say 'vibes' for lack of a better word. Because I'm not actually sure If I could classify it in those genres. (is bdsm a genre? Im not sure)
The story is about a prince who is betrayed, sent to an enemy kingdom, and made to be a sex slave for the prince of that kingdom. His identity is hidden, so no one knows who he is. There's a hate-but-with-so-much-sexual-tension relationship between the two princes. Which develops and is the main aspect of the book.
The erotica/bdsm vibes come from the fact that the main character is held in a harem. Where a lot of sex/sexual stuff happens throughout the book. Also he is often restrained and tied up. (Because he's violent and might escape. Not because of other.. reasons...)
If you were expecting a simple romance. Just know, there's a lot of sexual content, some sexual violence. And also pedophilia, as one of the sex slaves is only 13.
The relationship between the two princes was definitely the best part of the book. They have a very slow building romance. If you hate insta-love, then this is the book for you. I really enjoyed their dynamic, how they both changed and grew, and how realistic the developments were.
This story is so easy to get into, and such a quick read. And I was really enjoying and interested in the story by the end. However there were quite a few problems. -lack of world building: It felt like the basic elements of a fantasy were there. But none of the added detail, or any unique additions. -cliche and unsurprising plot: nothing happened that really surprised me, and the beginning especially felt very cliched. -underdeveloped characters: except for the two main characters, everyone lacked depth -unpolished writing: At times it felt a little messy, also I felt as though some things were unnecessarily clarified or described.
Even with all these problems, by the end of the book I was immersed in the story. So much so that I started the second book immediately. Which was so much better than this one....more
It is SO good to know what Valek said, to that insane last line, of the previous book.
I really enjoyed this b*ARC provided by Mira Ink, via netgalley*
It is SO good to know what Valek said, to that insane last line, of the previous book.
I really enjoyed this book. I kept thinking about it, and wanting to pick it up. Although there were quite a few things I didn't find great, which I will go into, in my full review. (Hopefully up soon)...more
*ARC provided by Penguin Books Australia, via netgalley*
This book was cotton candy, with a delicious Oreo center. It was fluffy, it was Actually 4.5/5
*ARC provided by Penguin Books Australia, via netgalley*
This book was cotton candy, with a delicious Oreo center. It was fluffy, it was adorable. The romance was so much fun, and I couldn't even handle how cute it was sometimes. But it was also more than that, mostly because of Simon.
Simon's narration was authentic and added a realness to the story. He is growing up, and trying to decide who he is, and what he wants to share with others. The relationships and decisions get more complicated, and his flaws become visible, as well as the ways he can grow.
Simon's personality and voice are really distinct. He is masculine, but also sensitive. Sex is discussed and thought about in the book, but never in a crude way. The author also manages to capture these moments of adolescence so well. Simple things, that when you read them, just tug on your nostalgia, and remind you of past experiences.
Sexuality and other issues play a big part in this book, but its definitely more about Simons personal growth, and also about the romance. Which can I just say, was so freaking cute! One of the most adorable romances I've ever read.
Other characters like Abby and Leah also added a lot to the story. They are so different from each other, but both such amazing friends. I loved the diversity of their characters, and the conflicts that happened between them, and Simon.
However, other than Simon, Abby and Leah. The other characters weren't as well developed, and could have been explored more. Also everything in the book ends a little too perfectly. Every thing falls into place, in a sort of fairytale kind of way.
Even so, I finished this book with a smile on my face. It was such a fun reading experience, and I definitely recommend it. ...more
*ARC provided by Bloomsbury Publishing, via netgalley*
I had a very conflicting experience with this book...
THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK Things started of*ARC provided by Bloomsbury Publishing, via netgalley*
I had a very conflicting experience with this book...
THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK Things started off with me being slightly confused. Mostly because everyone was acting in a weird and unbelievable way.
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The world had the potential to be really amazing. But I just wasn't having it. I couldn't connect to the story, the characters and most of all the narrator.
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Eventually though, I started to get more engrossed in the story. And that's when the forced romance VERY VERY SLOWLY started to appear. Honestly I have never wanted insta-love to hurry up and go already, as much as I did with this.
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There was some waiting, some slight plot developments.
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And then finally it happened!!! The romance moved forward!!
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Let me just say, it was slightly worth it.
THE SECOND HALF After the steamy romance finally started to happen. The rest of the book, just fell into place and got AMAZING! I couldn't stop reading. Everything was so intense, and just YES! This is what I was waiting for!
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So that was my strange experience with this book. I went from not liking it, to pretty much loving it.
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Also can I just add, one of the characters is described as moving their head in an animalistic way? What does that look like? Every time I read that description, all I thought of was this...
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...more
*thanks to Orion publishing for sending me this book, via netgalley*
So lets set the scene. There is a world separated by blood. (probablActually 2.5/5
*thanks to Orion publishing for sending me this book, via netgalley*
So lets set the scene. There is a world separated by blood. (probably just North America) If you have silver blood you are the elite, and maybe even have special abilities (imagine x-men). If your blood is red, then you are a commoner/controlled by the government a.k.a people with silver blood.
Enter the main character Mare Barrow, a 17 year old girl with red blood. When you first meet her, she is ordinary and no different to other red bloods. But then you get to know her better and you realise she's special. You could even say she has 'blood orange' blood.
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Ok fine, not actually. The point is that the main character of the story is special. (collapses in shock) Lets talk about 4 ways her snowflake status annoys me.
1. Every guy 'loves' her Every male character, that might love Mare. Ends up 'loving' her, to some degree or another. I say love very loosely here, because there wasn't really a romance in this book. There was no chemistry or heat, because there was barely any romantic interaction.
2. Every girl 'hates' her Most of the female characters, and also 'villians', hated Mare. Now there are obvious reasons for this hate. What I had a problem with though, was that these reasons were as basic as you could imagine. I wanted more explanation, and more depth to the antagonists.
3. Complains like its a sport I know that she's in a difficult situation. And that people are dying, and suffering. But somehow Mare is able to make me not care about all of that. At certain points it felt like all she would do was judge, and complain, and then judge some more. Most of the time, she was completely right. But when it feels like its happening every 2 pages, I can only care so much.
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4. Can't seem to see the obvious Like many main characters, Mare was blind to what is seemingly obvious. But I will forgive her for that. What really annoyed me, was that the plot as a whole was completely predictable. There wasn't a twist, or surprise, that I didn't see coming. All I had to do, was imagine what the most obvious route was, and that's where the story would go.
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Although the writing wasn't the best. It did draw me in, especially during action scenes. So I did end up enjoying at least part of my reading experience. The world was definitely my favourite thing about this book. The special abilities are so awesome, and I'm sure there are even more talented people in the next books. Also there is so much potential for where this story can go, and where Mare as a character can explore and grow. However I don't think I'll be reading book two.
A quick, fast paced mystery. That was really fun to read.
Quick Review: 1. Fast paced and easy to read. 2. Mystery was really good, and although it startA quick, fast paced mystery. That was really fun to read.
Quick Review: 1. Fast paced and easy to read. 2. Mystery was really good, and although it started off seemingly obvious. By the end I had no idea what was going to be revealed. 3. Love Oz the dog! 4. Story was a bit jumpy/moved to quickly at times. 5. Lack of good/interesting side characters for the first 100 pages.
I was beyond excited for this book. And also very worried...
The Study trilogy (which this book is a con*ARC provided by Harlequin TEEN, via netgalley*
I was beyond excited for this book. And also very worried...
The Study trilogy (which this book is a continuation of), like many other trilogies, slowly declined as it went along. Poison study (book 1), was incredible. It took me to another place, and filled me with memories of another life. It made me love characters, feel intense suspense, and miss a world when I left it too soon. There was something magical about it, that ironically was not replicated in Magic Study (book 2). And then things got even worse in Fire study (book 3), where at times the story felt repetitive and uninteresting.
So I was very worried that this book, would spiral even lower. But thankfully it did not!
The characters! I love Yelena, Valek and the whole team. It was so great to be reunited with them, and to see how they have grown.
The world is just amazing. It was like visiting a place I'd been before. Things were a bit murky at first, but then everything started to become clearer. And I just felt completely immersed.
The magic and how everything works is so interesting and awesome. It was also great to see the politics between people who have magic and people who dont. And how those two groups are affected by each other.
Yelena has finally learned, to stop running into situations unprepared (well mostly). In previous books, there was a repetitive cycle of her going into situations unprepared, being caught, then escaping or being rescued. It really annoyed me, and also made things less intense. Thankfully this book had a much more complicated plot. With a really great mystery, that kept me guessing until the end.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
The final showdown happened way too quickly. It was over before it really started.
Especially at the start of the book, some of the action felt nonchalant. I didn't feel like there was any real risk involved. It was just like, 'Oh hey someone is trying to hurt/kill/capture me again, cool.' Thankfully this changed in the second half of the book, where it started getting more intense and suspenseful.
There are flashbacks in the book, and although they were interesting. I felt like they slowed things down. Also some of the things that happened, were difficult to accept. (view spoiler)[Valek successfully hiding himself as a woman. Having a flawless sense of style, and becoming a skilled hairdresser. (hide spoiler)] Either because there wasn't enough evidence and explanation, or because it felt like it happened too easily/quickly.
I've always been a fan of Sydner, and I feel like she is improving so much as an author. This still isn't as amazing as Poison Study was. But its definitely heading in the right direction. And with the way things ended in this book, I cant wait to see what happens next!
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