The good + No real jealousy + Rosali making time for all her lovers + (view spoiler)[Rosali taking her responsibility as acting empress (hide spoiler)] + The good + No real jealousy + Rosali making time for all her lovers + (view spoiler)[Rosali taking her responsibility as acting empress (hide spoiler)] + Prince Ambrose (and Prince Henry) + Princess Roxane + The different cultures of Rosali and Lucia, and the way they managed to make it fit together
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o The book had a slow start until about 70%, where it finally took off. It took me months to finish, because the first part was such a chore o All the fuss about freezing their eggs in case something happened to Rosali or Lucia seemed outdated to me. In a setting where everything is so advanced, how can there still be so much focus on biological inheritance?
The bad - It was pretty obvious who (view spoiler)[the main traitor was (hide spoiler)], and I can't suspend disbelief enough to accept that the security team in the palace, including Alexis, didn't figure it out sooner. If nothing else, Beatrice should have known - The book left a lot of plotlines unresolved ((view spoiler)[the survival of that Terra Nuevan leader, no formal recognition of Rosali's paramours, Rosali's mother being an absolute bitch to her own daughter and suddenly being in her favor again (hide spoiler)]), but everything points to this being a standalone - Other plotlines were just dropped altogether (like (view spoiler)[Prince Henry's research (hide spoiler)]) - Many things happened for 'political reasons', which was very unsatisfying for the reader. I just wanted proper punishment for (view spoiler)[Prince Leon (hide spoiler)], proper recognition for Rosali's paramours, and (view spoiler)[the turncoat guards (hide spoiler)] hardly got what they deserved. This is fiction, Rosali was in a very powerful position, and I just wanted my closure - Rosali and her paramours expressed dismay when talking about planets and governments where men inherited titles, instead of women. Not once did anyone think that maybe any gender should be allowed to rule
The story had a lot of good going for it, but unfortunately, it was not enough to hold my attention. More than half of the book was used for setting up the last 30%, and that's too long to be able to hold my attention. Then, the result of that last part was pretty underwhelming. I had just expected and hoped for more. Unfortuntely, I do not recommend this book.
Merged review:
The good + No real jealousy + Rosali making time for all her lovers + (view spoiler)[Rosali taking her responsibility as acting empress (hide spoiler)] + Prince Ambrose (and Prince Henry) + Princess Roxane + The different cultures of Rosali and Lucia, and the way they managed to make it fit together
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o The book had a slow start until about 70%, where it finally took off. It took me months to finish, because the first part was such a chore o All the fuss about freezing their eggs in case something happened to Rosali or Lucia seemed outdated to me. In a setting where everything is so advanced, how can there still be so much focus on biological inheritance?
The bad - It was pretty obvious who (view spoiler)[the main traitor was (hide spoiler)], and I can't suspend disbelief enough to accept that the security team in the palace, including Alexis, didn't figure it out sooner. If nothing else, Beatrice should have known - The book left a lot of plotlines unresolved ((view spoiler)[the survival of that Terra Nuevan leader, no formal recognition of Rosali's paramours, Rosali's mother being an absolute bitch to her own daughter and suddenly being in her favor again (hide spoiler)]), but everything points to this being a standalone - Other plotlines were just dropped altogether (like (view spoiler)[Prince Henry's research (hide spoiler)]) - Many things happened for 'political reasons', which was very unsatisfying for the reader. I just wanted proper punishment for (view spoiler)[Prince Leon (hide spoiler)], proper recognition for Rosali's paramours, and (view spoiler)[the turncoat guards (hide spoiler)] hardly got what they deserved. This is fiction, Rosali was in a very powerful position, and I just wanted my closure - Rosali and her paramours expressed dismay when talking about planets and governments where men inherited titles, instead of women. Not once did anyone think that maybe any gender should be allowed to rule
The story had a lot of good going for it, but unfortunately, it was not enough to hold my attention. More than half of the book was used for setting up the last 30%, and that's too long to be able to hold my attention. Then, the result of that last part was pretty underwhelming. I had just expected and hoped for more. Unfortuntely, I do not recommend this book....more
The good + The obvious love between them + Their fond childhood memories + The way they found a balance between Hadley's caretaking and AmeliThe good + The obvious love between them + Their fond childhood memories + The way they found a balance between Hadley's caretaking and Amelia's independence + Hadley reading a book to Amelia while she's bathing + Amelia's good and bad days + Hadley easily adapting to her new life + Hadley's easy decision to stay
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o Hadley mentioned that Amelia always went after something when she wanted it, and that was how she 'knew' Amelia didn't love her romantically. Amelia didn't show this behavior on page, seeming rather hesitant and over-thinking instead o The author mentioned Amelia uses she/they pronouns, but in the book only she/her is ever used. It would have been nice to see the they/them pronouns used as well, especially because the reader wouldn't know about this had the author not given the information beforehand
The bad - A large portion of the book focused on the wine store. It was definitely cute, but at some point it started taking over and became the main plot (instead of the romance). Having either the romance or the wine store as the main plot would have been fine, but this shift halfway through the book was confusing and meant neither of the plots felt truly complete
This was sweet and extremely cozy. I usually skip descriptions of the environment, interiors et cetera, but even I couldn't miss the coziness of the cottage and the cute little town. If you like wine and uncomplicated romance, I would definitely recommend this one.
Merged review:
The good + The obvious love between them + Their fond childhood memories + The way they found a balance between Hadley's caretaking and Amelia's independence + Hadley reading a book to Amelia while she's bathing + Amelia's good and bad days + Hadley easily adapting to her new life + Hadley's easy decision to stay
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o Hadley mentioned that Amelia always went after something when she wanted it, and that was how she 'knew' Amelia didn't love her romantically. Amelia didn't show this behavior on page, seeming rather hesitant and over-thinking instead o The author mentioned Amelia uses she/they pronouns, but in the book only she/her is ever used. It would have been nice to see the they/them pronouns used as well, especially because the reader wouldn't know about this had the author not given the information beforehand
The bad - A large portion of the book focused on the wine store. It was definitely cute, but at some point it started taking over and became the main plot (instead of the romance). Having either the romance or the wine store as the main plot would have been fine, but this shift halfway through the book was confusing and meant neither of the plots felt truly complete
This was sweet and extremely cozy. I usually skip descriptions of the environment, interiors et cetera, but even I couldn't miss the coziness of the cottage and the cute little town. If you like wine and uncomplicated romance, I would definitely recommend this one....more
The good + Dorian's obvious care for his students + The incorporation of all the students into the story. With this many side characters (twelveThe good + Dorian's obvious care for his students + The incorporation of all the students into the story. With this many side characters (twelve students!) it should be impossible to keep track of everyone, but it was actually very doable + The students themselves. The ones most focused on were complex characters with real personalities + I think this is the first time I've read about a triad losing one of their own, and the two people left moving on together without searching for a third + The magic system (with the roots, the branches and the 'leaves') + Milo sharing his thoughts and feelings without reservation + Milo's calming effect on Dorian's magic
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o The evil mastermind was called Stefani Germanotta. This is either a huge coincidence, or the author holds an intense grudge against Lady Gaga o The plot and Dorian's students play significant roles in the story. The romantic connection between Milo and Dorian is only secondary. Be aware of that if you're thinking of picking this up because of the romance
The bad - Milo blamed Dorian for Finn's death (just like Dorian did), and used that to hurt Dorian. They never talked this out and Milo didn't apologize - During the book, Milo and Dorian drifted further and further apart. Their reunion at the end seemed very rushed and didn't feel natural. I hope their bond gets strengthened in the sequel - The text messages were often hard to read because the text was so small. I wish these had been formatted as plain text
Quotes
Everything about Milo was perfection, from his sweet smile to his eternal understanding, all the way to his puppy dog eyes. Whereas I was a mess of unbridled anger, constant regrets, and looming guilt.
So many of the adults, in general, hated their lives and jobs and choices. And from a very young age, I knew I wouldn't end up like any of them. I'd love my life and hate everyone else in it.
This story was really engaging and I got very invested in the students' lives. I can't wait for everyone to return in the sequel, which I'll definitely read as well. I have so many questions that need answers! And I also need more cuddles between Milo and Dorian, because Dorian deserves more love. Even so, the ending is not a real cliffhanger, and this book can definitely be enjoyed before the sequel launches. Would recommend.
Merged review:
The good + Dorian's obvious care for his students + The incorporation of all the students into the story. With this many side characters (twelve students!) it should be impossible to keep track of everyone, but it was actually very doable + The students themselves. The ones most focused on were complex characters with real personalities + I think this is the first time I've read about a triad losing one of their own, and the two people left moving on together without searching for a third + The magic system (with the roots, the branches and the 'leaves') + Milo sharing his thoughts and feelings without reservation + Milo's calming effect on Dorian's magic
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o The evil mastermind was called Stefani Germanotta. This is either a huge coincidence, or the author holds an intense grudge against Lady Gaga o The plot and Dorian's students play significant roles in the story. The romantic connection between Milo and Dorian is only secondary. Be aware of that if you're thinking of picking this up because of the romance
The bad - Milo blamed Dorian for Finn's death (just like Dorian did), and used that to hurt Dorian. They never talked this out and Milo didn't apologize - During the book, Milo and Dorian drifted further and further apart. Their reunion at the end seemed very rushed and didn't feel natural. I hope their bond gets strengthened in the sequel - The text messages were often hard to read because the text was so small. I wish these had been formatted as plain text
Quotes
Everything about Milo was perfection, from his sweet smile to his eternal understanding, all the way to his puppy dog eyes. Whereas I was a mess of unbridled anger, constant regrets, and looming guilt.
So many of the adults, in general, hated their lives and jobs and choices. And from a very young age, I knew I wouldn't end up like any of them. I'd love my life and hate everyone else in it.
This story was really engaging and I got very invested in the students' lives. I can't wait for everyone to return in the sequel, which I'll definitely read as well. I have so many questions that need answers! And I also need more cuddles between Milo and Dorian, because Dorian deserves more love. Even so, the ending is not a real cliffhanger, and this book can definitely be enjoyed before the sequel launches. Would recommend....more
The good + Forehead kisses + Vana getting tucked in by Daromir + Daromir making plans for a whole day of cuddling to settle themselves + TThe good + Forehead kisses + Vana getting tucked in by Daromir + Daromir making plans for a whole day of cuddling to settle themselves + The trust between them + Codependent cuddling + The way Daromir used the new properties of their bond + Daromir standing up for himself when Vana crossed his limit + Daromir's deal with the fellcat + Vana going slightly overboard with the magic when saving Daromir
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o Okay let's be real here, the baddie was super obvious and it's pretty painful that Daromir didn't realize what was happening until it was too late
The bad - The overarching plot confused me a lot. I dutifully read all previous books but I just didn't retain enough information to remember what happened between Vana and Rakos. A short summary of the story until now or more hints in the book would've been greatly appreciated - Vana was very focused on himself. Every decision he made was made in order to protect himself, but he hardly ever took Daromir's needs or happiness into account - There was, obviously, a severe power imbalance between them. This was not addressed as much as it should have been, even though Daromir was very much at a disadvantage regarding decisions made about their future
Quotes
Even if they did disappear, what would they do for a living? Will they have to become farmers or wandering minstrels? Fuck, no. Those are terrible ideas.
The politics and what was happening there went right over my head, but I did enjoy the deep bond between Daromir and Vana. Codependent cuddling is the best. I'm not completely sold on the next two princes yet, but I'll read those books anyway. I hope they'll positively surprise me. I would recommend this book if you've enjoyed the first three in the series, but in my opinion this one is the weakest yet. Still enjoyable, regardless....more
This book was incredibly rapey. Cody thought: "I was certain, in that moment, that I was going to die." He even told Rafe: "Obvious?! I thought I was This book was incredibly rapey. Cody thought: "I was certain, in that moment, that I was going to die." He even told Rafe: "Obvious?! I thought I was about to die today! I thought we were about to start another Pack war!" These were obviously the best circumstances for sex, so sex was had. Cody told Rafe "no" and shook his head when Rafe wanted to suck his dick. I don't know how much clearer Cody could have been that he did not consent to this action. Rafe proceeded anyway.
When Rafe and Cody came back to Cody's home, Cody's father asked: "Did he rape you?" This is pretty rich, coming from a guy who forces all omegas in his pack to participate in a hunt where omegas are forced to submit to the first alpha who catches them. Obviously, it was only okay for Cody to be raped by members of his own pack, not by enemies.
Rafe had been watching Cody for four years, and had been waiting for the right moment to mate him the whole time. Four years ago, Cody was only sixteen years old. There is no reason at all to add that extra layer of underage people being forced to participate in the hunt if the hunt wasn't going to be condemned anyway. It just made Rafe seem more creepy and gross.
Then there are the little things, like slut-shaming (because only 'cheap whores' can have the desire to be taken), the division between the 'good' and the 'bad' pack (where the 'good' pack was the one with the annual rape hunt and the 'bad' pack was the one whose territory had been taken by other packs), and the generally confusing worldbuilding.
Really, the only thing the book had going for it was that Rafe said Cody got to decide how many babies they would have.
I just can't recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased....more
The good + The deep connection and trust between Nate and Zach + Zach's attempts at romancing Nate + "Keeping it bros" + Nate being a dad The good + The deep connection and trust between Nate and Zach + Zach's attempts at romancing Nate + "Keeping it bros" + Nate being a dad to the rookies + The team + Nate's character. He felt so real
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o I didn't realize this was the second book in a series until after I got it (which is completely my own fault, since it's in the damn blurb), so I mixed up some characters in my head sometimes. But overall I think this can be enjoyed as a standalone o There were a few mentions of 'the k-word'. I had never heard of this before, so I googled it to find out what it meant. Now I've learned a new slur (not that I'll ever use it), and I can't help but think that I never would have learned this word in the first place if it wasn't mentioned here. If 'a slur' was used instead of 'the k-word', the text would have remained exactly the same and readers wouldn't be learning any new slurs o There was a lot of alcohol use, but I won't hold it against the book because it was clearly mentioned in the warnings. I just throught it was too much and even made their relationship feel a bit dubious. But well, I don't understand hockey, so I also thought there was too much hockey. In a hockey book. So maybe don't listen to me...
The bad - This book has one of the tropes I hate the most in romance books: (view spoiler)[the Big Miscommunication (hide spoiler)] -(view spoiler)[When Zach and Nate were clearing up the miscommunication, their conversation was so confusing that even I, a reader who read the original event, didn't understand what was going on anymore. And suddenly they'd made up and had sex. It was a bit confusing and fast (hide spoiler)] - Nate had anxiety. He coped really well (even though I'm glad (view spoiler)[he eventually decided to try therapy (hide spoiler)]), but it wasn't easy. And Zach knew about this. He knew about Nate's anxiety. (view spoiler)[Yet when he disappeared on Nate and didn't answer any of his texts, and he saw a text sent in the middle of the night that said Nate was really worried about him, he sent back a generic I'm fine and then ignored Nate's texts again. I understand Zach was heartbroken, but that's not a good way to treat your friend with anxiety (hide spoiler)] - Zach complained that it was frustrating how people had fireworks despite it being illegal, because he had dogs and they went crazy when there were fireworks. He thought this on New Year's Eve, when instead of being at home with his dogs, he was with Nate. And at midnight, (view spoiler)[he kissed Nate (hide spoiler)] instead of being at home with his dogs. Why did he have to mention the dogs?! Now I was worried about the dogs the whole time!
Quotes
He started to walk back toward the kitchen, but that required effort, so Nate sat down on the floor. Then he lay down on the floor. That seemed like a good way to handle things.
This book was alright. I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would, because I'm a fan of good communication and clear consent. I got really excited when Zach decided to romance Nate. I also really liked Nate's character. It just didn't slot together the way I hoped it would, which is a pity. But objectively, this is not a bad book. If you liked the first book in the series, you should definitely give this one a try....more
The good + The honest communication + Roman saving Brick's turtle + The clear expectations between them + Both of them going all-in for a The good + The honest communication + Roman saving Brick's turtle + The clear expectations between them + Both of them going all-in for a committed relationship + Brick's protectiveness over everyone he took under his wing
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o Is this a spin-off series? Bricks dropped a lot of names, and sometimes it felt like I was supposed to know who they were
The bad - The editing was done very badly. There were many mistakes, and some things were so annoying they pulled me right out of the story. "We need to get vertical fast, or I'm stripping you standing up." - At the end of the book, (view spoiler)[Roman was tentatively building a relationship with his father again. But his father was a bully and an abusive asshole, and I don't understand why he should be forgiven (hide spoiler)] - Roman's mother was an awful woman. She didn't support Roman when he came out as gay, then didn't approve of his choice of boyfriend because he wasn't "from a good family", and then used emotional manipulation to make herself look like the victim. She was not called out for any of this - After they learned Roman was in danger, (view spoiler)[he still managed to get hurt twice. And both of those times happened through such stupid mistakes he kind of deserved it, honestly. It was so obvious something was going to happen that it was impossible to remain immersed in the story (hide spoiler)]
I liked the relationship between Brick and Roman. Almost everything else was a disappointment. And once again, family members were forgiven for their horrible behavior just because they were family. Just because someone is family doesn't mean you owe them anything. If you can overlook the family stuff and don't mind a predictable plot, the romance is sweet and I'd recommend this book just for that. But as a whole, I don't think this is worth it....more
The good + Fellcat! + Actual groveling. Marek fucked up, and he properly groveled for Sei's forgiveness + Marek's complete commitment when heThe good + Fellcat! + Actual groveling. Marek fucked up, and he properly groveled for Sei's forgiveness + Marek's complete commitment when he finally chose Sei + Sei making friends everywhere + Sei standing up for himself when Marek got on his last nerve + Lots of dragon riding content + Their nicknames for each other +(view spoiler)[Accidentally eating the kidnapper (hide spoiler)]
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o Sei hadn't been touched affectionately for years, making him incredibly starved for touch. Right? This was not used in the story at all! The best trope, right there for the taking, and nothing was done with it at all :(
The bad - The main conflict between Marek and Sei was resolved in a way that didn't resolve anything at all. (view spoiler)[Sei was angry that Marek forced him to let go of something that was a part of him, regardless of what this part was. The resolution was that Marek saw that this part was actually good and useful, so everything was fine. But it wasn't. That part in specific was not the issue. The issue was that Marek denied part of Sei's nature, and that argument has not been resolved at all (hide spoiler)] - Sei grew up as a subject to an abusive organization, and it was hardly acknowledged at all. Marek made one or two remarks about it, but Sei's trauma or the existence of the organization itself were left unaddressed - I read the previous four books in the series whenever they came out. Apparently this is too long ago, because the plot was really hard to follow. I really would have liked a few more reminders of things that had happened in previous books, and explanations for actions - So many things were happening, that nothing felt like it was properly resolved. There were just too many loose threads and plots going on. Vana's disappearance was hardly mentioned and seemed to come to a strange resolution; Marek's father had an evil plan and Marek just went along with everything; Julian and Whisper showed up and nothing really happened (what was that visit for, anyway?); there was a big evil invention but nobody explained what it was; etcetera. I would have preferred fewer plotlines if that meant they would have been handled properly - Marek just follows along with his dad's evil plans??? I thought he was supposed to be a good guy, but he just goes along with everything. His character was not explained well enough to justify this behavior
Quotes
New rule, Loska says. No fornicating on the dragon.
"What if Radovan or someone annoys Osric, and he eats them?" "Is that a problem? You told me Osric didn't eat people, and I thought fellcats were tame." "They're not tame, they're civilized." "I'm sure everything will be fine. Besides, as long as Osric only partly eats Radovan, the blood healers will be able to put him back together."
I really enjoyed all of the books in the series so far, but I really lost track of the plot now. I had trouble understanding what was going on, and it felt like so many things were happening simultaneously and nothing was given the right amount of attention. I also think Sei deserved a proper (second) apology from Marek, because he tried to deny part of Sei's nature. This book is not bad, it's just not good either, especially compared to the other books in the series. I hope the final installment will clear things up for me....more
The good + Averlon risking it all to save Faolan + Revyn. He's a great friend + Faolan taking care of Averlon and Revyn as well as he can The good + Averlon risking it all to save Faolan + Revyn. He's a great friend + Faolan taking care of Averlon and Revyn as well as he can + Faolan's happiness whenever Averlon was proud of him for something + All the merpeople immediately thinking of ways to save Averlon's human mate. Nobody expected Averlon to give up on him
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o I didn't really like Averlon's surviving father. Who loses their mate and then denies their son the chance to find his own fated mate? I guess it was convenient for plot reasons, though…
The bad - Faolan was a pleasure slave, but he didn't get treated like one at all. It was obvious the captain was a horrible person, but because he didn't want to touch Faolan until he was healthy (out of sexual preference, not out of kindness) Faolan acted like he was a nice person. Even after the captain physically abused him and sexually assaulted him - Faolan had a horrible past and was traded and sold as a pleasure slave, yet the connection between Faolan and Averlon was 95% sex-focused. It's fine to be sexually attracted to each other, but it was like Faolan's trauma was conveniently forgotten by himself and completely ignored by Averlon just so they could think about dicks - There were quite a few plot holes and a lot of convenient circumstances - Faolan had access to the cells of Averlon and Revyn almost since the beginning, yet they never came up with a plan to escape until the very end. There was no reason that plan couldn't have been set in motion long before that
The plot didn't make a lot of sense, and the world building was very minimal. However, I still liked the characters and I enjoyed reading this book. There were many things that often annoy me, but didn't bother me as much this time. So yes, I would recommend this one if you're okay with pretending the plot makes sense and just want to read about cute mermen falling in love....more
The good + Thomas' genuine personality, and his habit of taking what people say at face value and without prejudice + The friendship between ThoThe good + Thomas' genuine personality, and his habit of taking what people say at face value and without prejudice + The friendship between Thomas and Charles at school + No easy forgiveness after a great betrayal + Thomas' honesty about his feelings and his unhappiness + The writing style. It was very pleasant to read
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o Parts of the plot were very predictable, but it was still enjoyable to read
The bad - The four magi Thomas met were called Fiona, Faya, Fyavine and Fiametta. It was really difficult to keep them apart - There were no content warnings in this book. At the very least, there should have been warnings for (view spoiler)[suicidal thoughts, depression, false accusation of rape, domestic abuse, homophobia, and no HEA/HFN (hide spoiler)] - When I got this book, I did not know this was not a standalone. I was therefore completely blindsided by the ending. (view spoiler)[This book has no HEA or even a HFN (hide spoiler)], and I wouldn't classify it as a genre Romance because of that. If I had known beforehand that there will be a sequel, which I assume will be about the same characters, my views might have been different. Now I just felt very betrayed. One of the tags the author used was "sweet romance fantasy". Considering the ending, and the depressed main character, I wouldn't call this book sweet, but rather angsty or even tragic - When Charles saw Thomas again, he acted like what he did to Thomas was just a small disagreement instead of the utter betrayal it actually was. He should have been groveling right from the start
This book was not what I had expected. With tags like "sweet romance fantasy" I had expected something cozy instead of angsty, and definitely a romance. Combined with the lack of content warnings, I was completely unprepared. The book was really good, don't get me wrong, but it was not at all what was advertised or what I expected. I do think I will read the second book if it's about the same characters, because I expect lots of groveling and that's one of my favorite things in books. If you want to read this book, I'd suggest asking someone who read it for more information beforehand so you know what to expect....more
The good + Lots of shifted pets + Honesty and good communication + Dillon's instant connection with Ash's mother. I thought she was annoying,The good + Lots of shifted pets + Honesty and good communication + Dillon's instant connection with Ash's mother. I thought she was annoying, but Dillon really got along well with her + Protectiveness + Dillon never pushing Ash to talk about his trauma or show his scars + Hellhound police. So useful when they can smell lies + Cuddles
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o I checked multiple times while reading whether this really wasn't a spin-off series. There are lots of side characters and it's hard to keep up with everyone o I don't really understand why Dillon thought he was the last hellhound. Hellhounds can't die of old age, so why would he assume he's the only one of his species left?
The bad - Jeremy was an awesome friend, and Ash really did him dirty. Even after Jeremy had to be sent away from the hospital so he wouldn't see Ash's magical healing Ash didn't decide to tell Jeremy about the supernatural -(view spoiler)[Ash's (connection to his) magic was broken, and he had not expected he'd ever get it back. Dillon didn't really tell Ash he'd also love him without the magic. Instead, the magic problem was magically fixed without a possible future with Ash forever having only the tiniest magical ability being discussed. When they did discuss Ash's magic, Dillon just told him he wasn't broken because his magic was still in his aura, instead of reassuring him he wasn't broken regardless or that he was good enough without his magic as well (hide spoiler)] - The plot was very confusing. I suppose everything will become clearer later on in the series, but it felt like I was dropped in the middle of a story instead of at the beginning
Quotes
"The bullet didn't hit anything important like my heart or my lungs or whatever." "You are important. The bullet hit you."
Despite my confusion due to all the characters and the seemingly chaotic plot, I enjoyed reading this. The plot will obviously continue in future books, so maybe if you're impatient it's better to wait until more books have been published to start this one. If you're just here for hellhound pets, then I'd definitely recommend reading this immediately....more
The good + Will's relationship with his sons + The domestic vibes + Connor and Will giving their all for Vicky + Lots of hurt/comfort +The good + Will's relationship with his sons + The domestic vibes + Connor and Will giving their all for Vicky + Lots of hurt/comfort + Their honesty in their communication
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o(view spoiler)[Brandon was forgiven in the end because he admitted he'd be a bad father. He never apologized for his homophobia or for not thinking about Vicky's needs over his own when claiming paternity rights. So while I liked that he came to his senses, it went a little too smoothly (hide spoiler)] o I am very petty and I don't forgive easily. That's more of a me-problem than a book-problem
The bad - Both main characters were constantly thinking about having sex with each other, regardless of the baby in the room. I have no idea how parenting works or if that's normal, but it made me really uncomfortable to read about all their sexual fantasies while they were holding or watching a baby. Vicky had a fever and Connor was really freaking out, while simultaneously getting really turned on from seeing Will hold his sick daughter. That just didn't work for me - Connor, Connor's best friend, and Will's son had all studied law. And maybe they were all in the wrong field or they genuinely didn't know anyone in the right field, but it felt unrealistic how much they were fumbling with the whole custody thing. (view spoiler)[Also, when the 'temporary' agreement was set up, it was treated like it was a done deal and it would remain that way forever. No end to the 'temporary' arrangement was mentioned. And I understood from the book that there was a way for Vicky's dad to claim back his daughter like some kind of 6 months return policy, even though he wasn't on the birth certificate and it was arguably better for the child not to get taken away by a stranger for a week, especially when said stranger claimed to only do it for homophobic reasons. Why didn't these lawyer brains all get together and cook up a way to get Brandon's rights revoked or at least stall his claims? What I could find through a short internet search (so take it with a grain of salt) is that there are no rules stating that time spent with children has to be divided 50:50, and that rulings will take the best interest of the child into account. I don't understand why they all capitulated to this temporary custody agreement that seemed to be indefinite without a fight (hide spoiler)] - Henry was a great best friend for most of the book, but he was also a bit of a coward. (view spoiler)[He knew representing Connor was a risky move and that in order to do his job he would sometimes have to do things Connor wouldn't be happy with. Yet when he agreed to something Connor didn't like, Henry immediately pulled back and refused to support Connor when he went through his second traumatic experience within a few months. Maybe Henry's feelings were a bit hurt, but Connor was breaking down right in front of him and Henry refused to reach out. And then Connor is the only one to apologize when they finally see each other again (hide spoiler)]
Quotes
"Come on, get up. I'm not sitting my arse down on the floor next to you. We'll be civilised and have a breakdown on the couch."
"If you had Batman's funds, you wouldn't be working a normal job. You'd spend all your time in the gym." "Wrong. I would buy my own sports team and put myself on every single one."
I really liked their families (including Will's sons) and their sweet relationship. But I'm a very petty person and I want revenge or proper apologies/groveling from characters who were in the wrong. I think the easy forgiveness (which is probably a way healthier way to live than holding a grudge) tampered my enjoyment. However, the book was very well-written and I would still recommend it if you're looking for a book with an unexpected new single dad and angst only external to the romantic relationship at the center of the story....more
The good + Mutual pining + Respect for each other's talents and capabilities + The ship's captain + All the pets + The animals' personaThe good + Mutual pining + Respect for each other's talents and capabilities + The ship's captain + All the pets + The animals' personalities + Shen deciding Taz needed shepherding + Rylando trusting Taz with his team + Taz's treatment of the girl she was helping + The sweet vibes despite the action-heavy plot
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o The part with the money transfers was a little confusing and I didn't understand, but at least I understood the end result so that's fine o The German wasn't always accurate ("I'm just a Kinder", but 'Kinder' is plural)
The bad - What happened to the girl that Taz helped, the one who could communicate with animals? That part was left pretty loose-ended - Taz was not completely satisfied yet with the life they had created for themselves by the end, and the book ended before she found something to keep her busy
Taz and Rylando spent most of the book apart, but there was no doubt about their connection to each other. I really enjoyed reading about their mutual respect and trust, but the absolute highlight was Rylando's team. Every animal had their own personality and role in the team. Would definitely recommend this one....more
The good + The great communication and complete honesty between Cori and Aster + Cori's support for Aster and how she never tried to tell her shThe good + The great communication and complete honesty between Cori and Aster + Cori's support for Aster and how she never tried to tell her she should quit her job + Cori's need to take care of Aster and Aster secretly longing to be taken care of + Their mutual trust + Cori finding joy in everything she sees + Aster making friends + Cori treating all her patients equally and never judging them for the way their injuries/illnesses/problems were conceived
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o That shitty director of the clinic Cori worked in at first never really got reprimanded for what he did
The bad - This book was indeed a feel-good cozy read, but it did start dragging about two-thirds in. The book is very long for a story without a real plot, and where not much really happens. Sometimes things would be teased, like the emergence of that anti-alien group, but it didn't really go anywhere. The hate group was just... there, as a plot device, even though the way they impacted Aster's livelihood made me expect a little excitement - Cori had an incredibly traumatic past, but she had been to therapy and it was implied that this meant everything was dealt with and left in the past. The way Cori treated her past was almost robotic, and couldn't actually be a healthy coping mechanism. This was not explored further, and even her superhuman enhancements were just there and never brought any excitement to the story - Aster's family made her feel guilty for leaving her parents behind. One mother went as far as blaming Aster to her face for causing depression for one of her moms because she left the nest. What the hell? She's their daughter, not their live-in pet or slave. Parents are not supposed to make their children feel bad for spreading their wings and doing what makes them happy
This book was definitely really cozy and there was no angst. While I definitely love very little angst in relationships, the lack of angst or excitement or anything else outside their relationship made the whole book one big ball of fluff. Which is lovely, except this book was a bit too long. At some point, the fluff got repetitive and it got a bit boring that nothing was happening. I would recommend this book if you're looking for something cozy and fluffy, but it's probably best to read it in doses instead of in one long sitting....more
- Steven has not come out yet. Freya, his supposed best friend, keeps trying to catch him off-guard so he'll come out to her. Who does thatDNF 41%
- Steven has not come out yet. Freya, his supposed best friend, keeps trying to catch him off-guard so he'll come out to her. Who does that? It's all up to Steven if and when he wants to come out, and it's none of Freya's business. She also assumes he's gay just because he's never shown any interest in girls, blatantly ignoring that Steven might be acespec, arospec, private about his feelings, not interested in any of these girls in specific, not interested in romance/sex in general yet, bi/pan with a preference for men, etcetera. Or maybe Steven isn't a guy. There are so many options other than Steven being gay, and her insistence on calling him gay and trying to make him out himself to her is awful. - I searched ahead to find out if and how Steven comes out to Freya. Freya catches him kissing a guy and then makes him give her a label, even after Steven says he doesn't really know.
"Gay? Bi? Pan?" "Errr, I don't know." "Well, do you find women attractive?" "I guess not." "You guess not? Jesus, I'm asking if you are sexually aroused by women, not asking if you want butter on your toast." "It's hard to really know." "Sure, but gun to your head?" "Gun to my head, I'd say I'm... I'm gay."
Seriously, what the fuck is this? Steven doesn't need a label. Steven doesn't need to come out to her. Steven doesn't have to know just exactly which genders he's attracted to and how much, not when he's only 17 and not later in life either. Oh, and note how Freya again ignored the options of acespec, arospec, and Steven being trans. - There was a love triangle in this book. I hate love triangles. If I had known there'd be one going in, I would not have picked this book in the first place. - The third guy in the love triangle was a guy who was introduced to the story without a mention of his age. I thought he was a random guy in his 30s, so imagine my surprise when he kissed 17-year-old Steven. Later, Steven conformed he looked like someone in his 20s. There was of course also the severe power imbalance with this guy being Steven's only hope for a normal life. So without warning, I got confronted with a guy whose age was later confirmed to be (view spoiler)[over 80 years old (hide spoiler)] sexually assaulting the 17-year-old main character. Ugh. Oh, and the best part of the love triangle is that Steven would have picked this old guy over his classmate and friend, and only 'switched sides' when he found out the old guy was not trustworthy. How romantic and genuine. - This book is advertised as "wholesome", and has no content warnings. Yet this book covers topics such as illegal experimentation on pregnant women, eugenics, creatures and gore fit for horror stories, kidnapping and drugging, sexual assault of a minor, and whatever else is in the part of the book I didn't read.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased....more
The good + Their first meeting. Folk was so conscientious and accommodating. His emphasis on consent and giving Seth plenty of time to leave were vThe good + Their first meeting. Folk was so conscientious and accommodating. His emphasis on consent and giving Seth plenty of time to leave were very kind + The honesty between them, both in the things they told each other and about the fact that there were things they couldn't talk about + The honesty about their feelings + Folk telling Decoy he wanted lots of children like it was a foregone conclusion they'd be together for the rest of their lives + Their confidence in each other's romantic feelings + Decoy trying to be a good parent + Folk's natural parenting skills + The whole MC. Everyone is so free with their affection for each other + All of Ivy's honorary uncles and aunt
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o I forgot who Rocco was to Folk and Locke, and I'm still not sure now. A little more recap on that part would have been nice o I have to admit I'm hesitant about the next book (Orla, Nash and Locke), because the dynamics I've seen between those so far don't really appeal to me. But I guess we'll see when it comes out
The bad - Ivy had a half-brother, and Decoy was worried about him. But Ivy never mentioned her brother and in the end the brother just went with his biological father and nobody even bothered to check up on him - Decoy spent so much time and effort in being a good father on paper because of the custody battle, it seems like he sometimes forgot to be a good father right then to Ivy as well. It was clear Ivy's mother wasn't taking good care of Ivy (like when she didn't even bother doing Ivy's hair for school), and especially after (view spoiler)[she cut off Ivy's hair (hide spoiler)] it became clear that Ivy wasn't safe with her mother. The custody battle could take years, and Decoy was too focused on that future instead of the trauma Ivy was suffering in the now sometimes - Decoy put all that effort in being a good father on paper so he could gain custody, and then everything was resolved (view spoiler)[with a recording of one conversation with confessions (hide spoiler)]. It seems like such a waste for Decoy to have gone through everything and then have it resolved so quickly and not according to plan at all. It felt anticlimactic to me, while it was supposed to be a climax I suppose
Decoy and Folk really do belong together. I very much enjoyed their connection, their honesty and the talk of their future together. The MC was really schmoopy and everyone was very free with telling each other how much they're loved and appreciated. I really like this found family. I wonder what the next book will bring, and though I'm a little hesitant, I'll definitely give it a chance. Would recommend this book and the series until now....more
I have very complicated feelings about this book, and decided not to leave a star rating because none of the options would accurately portray my enjoyI have very complicated feelings about this book, and decided not to leave a star rating because none of the options would accurately portray my enjoyment.
First of all, I genuinely liked a lot about this book. Especially the god of blood and their religion was very well-crafted, and Aurum's feelings and beliefs felt very realistic to the reader. It's a pity that Simin's religion was did not get as much attention, and felt a little more flat in comparison. I really enjoyed the way their religious beliefs were worked into the story and how neither religion condemned anything queer. The characters said so themselves: their "compatible insanity" made them a great fit.
My complicated feelings stem from the portrayal of Aurum's asexuality. This part cannot be explained without some small spoilers. (view spoiler)[I only know that Aurum is asexual because it was mentioned in the blurb. In the book, it's not mentioned at all, only that he's impotent. While I greatly appreciate representation for either subject in books, it felt like asexuality and impotence were treated as synonymous here. However, asexuality is about sexual attraction, and not arousal or the physical manifestation of arousal. And impotence does not equal a lack of sexual attraction (and, to make it even more complicated, asexuality is a broad term and ace people can experience sexual attraction as well). Of course someone can be impotent and asexual, but I think this book was too short to completely convey the correct nuances. On top of that, Aurum's descriptions of his feelings when he has sex with Simin clearly indicate arousal or excitement. While it's completely valid for asexual people to experience sexual desire, Aurum's sexuality (or any sexuality) was never mentioned in the book. This made it feel like Aurum's inability to orgasm was 'translated' to asexuality in the writing of the blurb. This implied synonymy between asexuality and impotence made me uncomfortable, because one of them is a sexual orientation and the other is a condition. I appreciate representation for both of these, but applying them to a single character would require more elaboration. (hide spoiler)]
Quotes
"Aurum, did we just get married." "What? No! Of course not! Probably not. Maybe? Would it even work if we didn't get your goddess's blessing?" "It wouldn't. Would it? Fuck, I don't know... Can we be half married? Is that a thing?" "So, what, I'm married to you, but you're not married to me? Is that it? Did we just invent the first unrequited marriage in history?" "Of course not, don't be stupid. History is so weird, we can't possibly be the first ones."
"I'd let you do it." "Murder you?" "Sure. I'd show you where to cut. How to make it real bloody. You can only kill me once, best to make it as good as possible, don't you agree?" "You are insanely fucking weird."
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased....more
The good + Bonking their heads together as an affectionate gesture + Kai's friendship with the dog + Kai's general happiness at being with EzThe good + Bonking their heads together as an affectionate gesture + Kai's friendship with the dog + Kai's general happiness at being with Ezra. Even when Ezra is laughing and Kai doesn't know why, he laughs along. Or when the mood is neutral he just smiles because he's happy to be with Ezra + Kai sneakily lulling Ezra to sleep because in his opinion he needs lots of naps + Eric. He's a great friend + The cover. It's really cute
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o Kai's immortality compared to Ezra's mortality was discussed very little. Is Kai going to stay with Ezra until Ezra is old and gray? Or does Kai age now that he's on land more often? An epilogue or some more information about the future would have been nice
The bad - Ezra's friend Mary said that Kai not having tried to have sex with Ezra meant he wasn't into him. First of all, it had just been a few days, and secondly, sex is not a way to measure if someone's into you. It's also none of Mary's damn business - Kai didn't want to have anal sex. Ezra did it anyway before Kai knew what was happening. Consent is important, and it was not given here. Later on, Mary said Kai was a side. Ezra didn't know there were people who didn't participate in anal sex, which is a very weird thing not to realize, and then still didn't accept that Kai may be a side. Kai even said "I like it much better when we do it this way" after frottage. But Ezra made Kai bottom instead of top to show him how good it could be, as if it's compulsory to like specific sex acts - Ezra presented Kai with an ultimatum where he had to choose between being with Ezra while miserable and suffering permanently and possibly even die, and being himself and living the way his species was meant to without pain or suffering but without Ezra. Who even presents an ultimatum like that? That's so emotionally manipulative. Ezra claims it's because of his anxiety, but there's a difference between 'driving the ones you love away' and toxic behavior. Also, aside from this emotionally abusive behavior, it's also kind of physically abusive, since Ezra (view spoiler)[refused to give back Kai's coat and Kai was in pain without it (hide spoiler)] - When the book ended, there was a sort of after-prologue. I wish that had either been included as an actual prologue, or left out altogether. Now it took up the spot where usually an epilogue is included, and made the book end on a very sad note. I even forgot for a second that the book actually did have a happily ever after because the prologue definitely didn't
Quotes
"You must have been lonely." "I didn't feel lonely until I met someone I missed."
"He smells bad." "He does not." "Yes, he does. If your olfactory senses were as good as mine, you would smell it on him, too. He reeks of bullshit."
There was so much potential here. The head bonks, Kai's dedication to Ezra and their endless affection for each other were perfect. However, Ezra ruined the book for me. He just got out of a bad relationship and then proceeded to be a toxic boyfriend himself. Consent is important. Not being emotionally manipulative is also pretty damn important. In the end I just felt sad for Kai. He deserved everything he could ever want, and it's a pity that he didn't realize he could want something better than what Ezra gave him....more
The good + Troller's enthusiasm for learning everything about living on the surface + Troller shopping for clothes. I love the way he didn't knoThe good + Troller's enthusiasm for learning everything about living on the surface + Troller shopping for clothes. I love the way he didn't know that humans decided clothing is a gendered thing for some reason, and just picked whatever clothing he liked + Royce not giving up on Troller + Royce braiding Troller's hair + Pete. He's a very good friend
The neutral o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased o The writing felt a bit too simplistic sometimes. The text didn't always flow pleasantly, and things were often left unexplained. It made the connection between the main characters at the start of the book and Royce's background feel very surface-level o Paranormal species were 'out' and everyone knew about magic, but for some reason the existence of the merfolk was a myth and nobody believed Royce when he said he met one of them
The bad - At some point, I got so sick of the word "vocalized". Royce vocalized. Troller vocalized. All the merfolk vocalized. Everyone fucking vocalized. Aaaargh! - Royce's father (view spoiler)[hired Royce's best friend in some kind of attempt at matchmaking. That is a shitty thing to do and Royce didn't really get mad at his dad about that (hide spoiler)] - The first time they had penetrative sex, Troller didn't know what was going on. Royce just stuck his dick inside without asking and Troller didn't really know what was happening. That's not how consent works, and it was dubcon at best - They had sex in the same room as where their babies were sleeping. I have no idea if parents actually do this but it sounds like a terrible idea and made me very uncomfortable. Especially because silence spells existed in their universe - Many things were left open-ended or unexplained. Will there be a sequel to this book? I still have so many questions. Royce was secretly semi-royalty, but what country/region was he a prince of? What was special about their third child? What happened to the bad guy?
Quotes
"Pete worked very hard and did intimate things for the pastries," Troller said, with all the sincerity of someone who had become very serious about bread in the last two days.
I liked the story and how sweet Royce and Troller were to each other. I did not really like the way the sexual component of their relationship was handled. I could have done with some actual consent for Troller's first time, and I could have done without the sex in the same room as their kids. However, the world did intrigue me and if there is going to be a sequel I'll probably read it anyway....more
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