I totally understand why people either love this or hate this. It felt like a fluff piece, was predictable, and the characters may strike you as annoyI totally understand why people either love this or hate this. It felt like a fluff piece, was predictable, and the characters may strike you as annoying, but nonetheless I found it fun and absorbing. It's got a big dose of Sherlock inspiration and I would highly recommend this to fans of The Madman's Daughter trilogy.
tw: large amounts of gore, including dissections in detail....more
Adored the concept (survival horror) but the story really dragged in the middle as Gyre repeated the same thoughts and actions over and over. I would Adored the concept (survival horror) but the story really dragged in the middle as Gyre repeated the same thoughts and actions over and over. I would have also liked the creatures to be more involved in the story, as I was expecting something creepier. On a more positive note, Em is such an incredibly complex character. She's like a villain that you can completely sympathize with. Also: f/f hate to love....more
Although this was fairly predictable, I think fans of royal romances or dramas (AKA meeee) will enjoy it. I liked the variety of POVs and the alternatAlthough this was fairly predictable, I think fans of royal romances or dramas (AKA meeee) will enjoy it. I liked the variety of POVs and the alternate history of the United States was very interesting to think about. I definitely feel like her writing has grown since her first book and I look forward to what's coming in this series....more
I was able to get more invested in the story and characters in this book than in book 1, and again the atmosphere are setting are the stars of the shoI was able to get more invested in the story and characters in this book than in book 1, and again the atmosphere are setting are the stars of the show. What I specifically didn't enjoy about this one is that although we are getting real answers, they are just thrown at us by the omnipotent narration, and not revealed due to anything Stevie has done to uncover them. The reader now knows more than anyone else and it's taking away some of the mystery. Regardless, I am finding this series enjoyable. It's very Nancy Drew meets Charlotte Holmes.
cw: explosions, dead bodies, claustrophobic spaces...more
Interesting format, and the audiobook was exceptionally produced! But that's the only good thing I can say about this. The way the framing story and tInteresting format, and the audiobook was exceptionally produced! But that's the only good thing I can say about this. The way the framing story and the story within this story interwove was so confusing. You are basically reading the exact same story twice but with names changed, so I would forget which names belonged to which story. I did not feel satisfied by the ending and can't even tell you what the end was? It felt like a great concept that was never developed beyond that framing. It kept building and building... to nothing....more
My least favorite of the 3 books because this one follows the bodyguard and yet his narrative voice and personality are identical to the previous two My least favorite of the 3 books because this one follows the bodyguard and yet his narrative voice and personality are identical to the previous two books' main characters (it's a flaw that those two are indistinguishable as well). The relationshiop here was not as well developed because about 50% of this book is the characters' talking about what the previous two couples are up to now. That was very fulfilling in terms of getting an extended "epilogue" for them, but it didn't allow much room for the actual romance in this book.
tw: fire
Audio: The series is enjoyable on audio, but the fact that all 3 books are narrated by the same people only serves to blur all the characters together even more. If you listen to them back to back you might forget which story you are in....more
Out of the 3 books, this was my favorite. The love interest is a librarian with anxiety and seeing a shy bookish woman challenge a man's toxic masculiOut of the 3 books, this was my favorite. The love interest is a librarian with anxiety and seeing a shy bookish woman challenge a man's toxic masculinity is something I would read about 1,000 times and not be bored.
This one was highly recommended to me when I asked for royal romance books, and I totally get why. The main guy is pretty terrible at first and that rThis one was highly recommended to me when I asked for royal romance books, and I totally get why. The main guy is pretty terrible at first and that really put me off (but I understand that that's an appeal for some in the romance genre!) but once the relationship began developing it felt like I was reading a different book altogether. I was completely hooked and invested by the end.
cw: death of parents, PTSD from military service, alcoholism, miscarriage (mentioned briefly), very detailed sex scenes.
A favorite mystery of the year! I really loved the format. It's told in present tense, which made it feel urgent to me, and the chapters jump around tA favorite mystery of the year! I really loved the format. It's told in present tense, which made it feel urgent to me, and the chapters jump around to a few of the various neighbors. Everyone is keeping secrets so it's easy to imagine many different people are guilty. I didn't know who I could trust to not be lying, so it really kept me on my toes! Lots of domestic drama. This is the second book by Lapena that I've read and she's becoming a favorite mystery author because her endings are SO fulfilling. She leaves nothing unanswered....more
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