Now this is a STORY! very much outside of my regular. 4.5 stars. I was at the edge of my seat from the first chapter to the very last sentence. ImmediNow this is a STORY! very much outside of my regular. 4.5 stars. I was at the edge of my seat from the first chapter to the very last sentence. Immediately need to buy part 2.
Read it. Love it. Slow to start. But holy hell it picks up. Suspense meets mild horror meets unexplainable science fiction meets the others. 4.5 stars. ...more
A short read, 3 stars because it wasn't bad. And the writing was not particularly amazing, but It gets major points for the dialogue between father anA short read, 3 stars because it wasn't bad. And the writing was not particularly amazing, but It gets major points for the dialogue between father and son.
I knew of the word, Jezebel, and eventually knew of the history of the term. This retelling makes it more nuanced, and dramatic. The lines between dutI knew of the word, Jezebel, and eventually knew of the history of the term. This retelling makes it more nuanced, and dramatic. The lines between duty and desire, and what it means to make the tough decisions in the face of those who are unwilling/do not understand the true tolls of power. Great retelling, likely one I will re-read later on.
And it needs to be said, if this is as close to the truth of it all as it can get, Jezebel's actions in this book were what any *man* would have taken, had they been as politically savvy. Jezebels only fault in this particular story was the body she was born into.
Again, great retelling and the narrator of the audiobook was 5 stars.
Where its Predecessor was well put together with a narrative plot of killing her mom, this one seems off.
Once I got to the 4th to last chap2.5 stars.
Where its Predecessor was well put together with a narrative plot of killing her mom, this one seems off.
Once I got to the 4th to last chapter, I kind of knew where it was going. I knew about Gus, because come on, how did you not know?
I was excited for the scene with the antifreeze, I wanted something climactic, but it was really disappointing. Not my favorite, but not bad. I would say, if you have not read the first one, this could be a stand alone....more
Lena was the real MVP; this story would not have been the same without her. She added that emotional "umpth" needed for the story to feel trul4 stars.
Lena was the real MVP; this story would not have been the same without her. She added that emotional "umpth" needed for the story to feel truly in the depths. She was my favorite character, partly because of the following: (1) Sis was delulu about that man caring for her and what came of her. Major side-eye. (2) her family was her tether; the rest didn't matter without them. (3) the way the story ended told me that she was a bad ass. 4 stars for Lena alone.
I found the rest of the story to be great, too, but the namesake focused so much on actually saving that one baby that it didn't do anything to add to the many others that were potentially saved. I wanted at least two more chapters of close calls that would have cemented the efforts without Lena there to take the risks. In the end, I loved both Aleksi and Emilia's work together and am thankful for how their stories ended.
Super short read. Took me all of an hour to finish. Their relationship seems like the ideal friends to lover kind of thing. Love that for them. The enSuper short read. Took me all of an hour to finish. Their relationship seems like the ideal friends to lover kind of thing. Love that for them. The ending was sweet.
I’ll read the others in the series. 3 stars. ...more
The best way to describe this book is a tease. It’s basically the middle and end of the book by TJR. I want more because the two main characters seem The best way to describe this book is a tease. It’s basically the middle and end of the book by TJR. I want more because the two main characters seem like people of their fine without all the silly beliefs of the time.
4 stars. And thankfully a save from some of the more drab books I’ve read of late. Perfect meal with this book. ...more
I wanted to like this book more; I really did. It had so much potential to be interesting, but it was riddled—pun intended—with tropes that did not adI wanted to like this book more; I really did. It had so much potential to be interesting, but it was riddled—pun intended—with tropes that did not add to the allure. Instead, I found myself wanting the book to get to the part where someone died because the games went too far.
Avery as a character is a contradiction. She is smart, logical, and capable. On the other hand, she is portrayed as horny, impulsive, and prone to trust more easily than she gives herself credit for. All the other characters were forgettable.
The plot revolves around horny teenagers falling in love with people they just met and the mystery of her inheritance, which isn't truly a mystery as they weren't really games. I would have called this book "The Mystery of the Girl" because the inheritance is not in question.
This book had great potential but little follow-through. Therefore, I give it 2 stars....more
This is such a weird book. Weird because the entire plot makes no real sense? Self discovery for these kids in high school, and tiny Cooper. Tiny is tThis is such a weird book. Weird because the entire plot makes no real sense? Self discovery for these kids in high school, and tiny Cooper. Tiny is the only interesting thing going on, the other folks are just supporting characters. Beyond that, I don’t get some of why any of this plot was being told. What was the point of it. And it wasn’t bad, but what was the point?
2 stars because I didn’t understand the point. Gonna read the tiny Cooper story later. ...more
Jolene is a moron. This book pissed me off something fierce simply because Jolene is truly not put together. And yet, as I was reading this 4.5 stars.
Jolene is a moron. This book pissed me off something fierce simply because Jolene is truly not put together. And yet, as I was reading this in bed and cringing at her escaped words, I could not help but hope as a character, she would find her way.
Emotionally, this book is super charged with moments that may resonate for folks. Sooooo much fo this book speaks to me, especially the ending. We spend so much time with work folks not to be somewhat involved in their lives.
A solid read. Loved the ending in particular....more
This series was a solid try about the aftermath of a large scale EMP.
What I liked was the characters' ability to pivot quickly and think of humanity.This series was a solid try about the aftermath of a large scale EMP.
What I liked was the characters' ability to pivot quickly and think of humanity.
What I did not like in this book was the politics of it all. And it makes me wonder, if we as a society did end up falling into chaos, would councils and such still exist to make order a thing? The politics of making it all work are what made me dislike moments in the series.
I think this series could have ended with part 2, extending a bit into the woes of the winter and avoiding the whole confrontation with the grifter taking foks hostage with this wife.
There was some carnage in this book. For sure. I am curious what Winter will encompass, and whether or not the main character is right about the exoduThere was some carnage in this book. For sure. I am curious what Winter will encompass, and whether or not the main character is right about the exodus back into the cities. ...more
The stories are not connected in any real way. The central story seems to be the connective tissue, a retelling from the eyes of a vampire 3.5 stars.
The stories are not connected in any real way. The central story seems to be the connective tissue, a retelling from the eyes of a vampire maybe?
The story of the gay boy and his girl friend? Great. My favorite of the stories. But the story with the stone wall and the magic? That was pretty cool too.
The most confusing one? Likely the story about the siblings and the magical birds?
The story which surprised me because it could have gone on for longer, but thankful it didn’t? The story of the couch. That was a nice surprise.
This was nice. A nice short read to get me through the last 4-5 days. ...more
I hate Jackson’s ending. But. It is what it is. And what it is, is fiction. That being. Said, I want more4 stars because I was at the edge of my seat.
I hate Jackson’s ending. But. It is what it is. And what it is, is fiction. That being. Said, I want more. I want more or Amber. She is fun. Major biatch. Conniving. But sis makes for a good character to hate. A black widow almost.
Liv, I’m watching for any of y’all’s next books. ...more
What I liked about this book was how tortured Cax's life was. At some points, I thought the anxiety was a bit much, but as the book progressed, clearlWhat I liked about this book was how tortured Cax's life was. At some points, I thought the anxiety was a bit much, but as the book progressed, clearly, he was right, and his dad was totally Guano. I can imagine some of this could be triggering for some folks. Read at your own risk.
Beyond that, their relationship was pretty on brand for Sarina, especially in how she writes her characters. I continue to see issues with sex scenes because they are great if you know nothing about the mechanics, but I implore her to look into this because when she does, she will write more realistic characters.
I had two significant issues with this particular work:
1. The book's timeline is super short, with the most significant jump happening in the epilogue. The relationship picked up where they left off, but Cax was not ready, and Axel could not take a hint. So, at one point, is the pressuring cool/cute?
2. I would have loved to see how the court case would have panned out and how it would have affected their relationship. Beyond that, I also wondered what would have happened if no contact had been kept. That would have made for an exciting story.
Minor kudos for bringing back Josh and Caleb the way they did.
3.5 stars - would have been 4, but some moments were too convenient for it to be 4 stars.
This is a nice follow-up to the previous entry in the series.3.5 stars - would have been 4, but some moments were too convenient for it to be 4 stars.
This is a nice follow-up to the previous entry in the series. We left X looking for his dad, and in this book, he finds him. I won't get into that. Frankly, I think X would have reached the conclusion I think we are reaching without finding his dad.
Joey - love me some her. She is such a wildcard. X knows he loves her, and so do we. She is the comic relief and keeps X accountable for being human and doing better. Their relationship, at least in this book, turns into more of a proud Sibling/Uncle/Mentor thing, less paternal than anything else. But I love how she is seemingly unafraid of being vulnerable with X. Also, points for the thing she did for that girl. I won't spoil it. But I thought it was awesome.
X - I continue to read these books because I think X is such a cool character. No nonsense, definitely on the spectrum, even if by only 6 cm. His need to do everything the same way for consistency is fascinating. I found his character's armor to be chipped away in this book, elements of what has kept him impossible to keep up with all coming apart. I am surprised he went down the bedroom hallway of his Passport supplier; that was unexpected. Then again, he did sleep with a client at the beginning of the series. So I guess, mehh.
Tommy—I found his character mildly irritating in this book, and I had a feeling his part would be expanded upon the minute Gregg made that interaction longer than needed. I guess we will see how this ends.
The story - I think where I get lost is the catalyst for all of this is a dog. I know X is lucky, sure, but to stumble on all this because of a dog? It's giving John Wick, but not even in a cool way. The little girl was annoying at best, and so was X's half-brother. Gregg did a fantastic job with the Billionaires in this book because they don't care about anything, just the bottom line. Almond???? I could visualize the CPAP machine and the stale smell of cheetohs, and I could see the conversation happening about desires and procreation. Biltmore was just there. Unsurprisingly, a twink near a power magnet. Well played, Gregg, well played. I was looking for more of a fight from the wolf; frankly, that death was underwhelming. Much of this book centered on emotional connection and less on the action. However, the scenes inside the trafficking houses were a nice nod to earlier writing. a 3.5 because of the following:
- I continue to be annoyed at the almost obnoxious happenstance that X always bumps into someone when he is home/on the elevator/walking into the building/going to the parking lot. It's crazy. I am surprised Evan did not bump into Mia and Peter while somewhere out and about. For the sake of realism, Gregg, no one is bumping into their neighbors this much. Never mind dealing with or being the tiebreaker in a decades-old feud between a widower and Double D grandma.
- The dog was presumed dead, and then HE finds X? *Side Eye*, low-hanging fruit bro. Do better. The story would have been so much richer if the damn dog had been found earlier in the story or just left for dead. I get it, too. It was a nice way to finish the storyline, but the Joey Coded gift was enough.
Devine is repugnant as a character. That's it; that's the tweet. The fact that he is still alive is crazy to me.
- How did the ending leave some future elements bleak with the open-sourcing and whatnot? I mean, yall are afraid for a reason. So what is the point?
- I did not see the point of everything with the half-brother. I hope it leads towards something; otherwise, it is just wasted writing.
The ending is both a pro and a con. Of all the places I thought it would go, I did not see that coming. But what now, especially after that scene in the bathroom???? ...more
1. I love a series. 2. I love a spin on a fantasy where there is magic and monsters 3. I love the names these authors comI will start with a few things:
1. I love a series. 2. I love a spin on a fantasy where there is magic and monsters 3. I love the names these authors come up with. Celaena??? Sardothien???? GENIUS. 4. I had not read a YA-ish fantasy in a long while, so I was looking forward to this one. Considering how much press I had seen online about how good it was..... 5. I was disappointed. 1.5 stars. And that is me being nice. 6. The plot was so riddled with plot holes, some of which need more closure to hook me into a second book. *For the record, this is purely about me, as there are several books in this series, and people love them, according to the reviews.
Celaena - a whole assassin with a reputation who is only 18? Liza Minelli. A whole kingdom knows about her, yet Sis is as ridiculous and hot-headed as a bag of hot Cheetos? No. Unimpressed.
The love triangle was unnecessary.
Kaltain was a mess, and of course, she was, getting influenced the way she was. But also, what a wench for being so obsessed and unhinged even before that.
Outside of our unfortunate main character, Cain was the most obvious choice for a bad guy. Though I want to know why the king is giving a sleaze bucket, clearly he has something to hide and is giving BDE/Big Douche Energy, but what is the tea there?
The queen's appearance and disappearance needed more explanation than what we got to make a clear point about what the rest of the books would be pointing to. Giving me this little information about the long-term plot means I would need to read more to figure out what happens. Buzz Kill.
1.5 stars. I likely will not read the other books. Hopefully, the other book, The Court of Thorns and Roses, will be better.
This was cute. I didn't mind it. Kind of like really weird addition, but in a good way. Joey is just wonderful. But Candy? Love her energy.This was cute. I didn't mind it. Kind of like really weird addition, but in a good way. Joey is just wonderful. But Candy? Love her energy....more
The story would have been great. But ultimately hollow at best. For a spy novel/thriller, there weren’t a lot of thrills. Luca was interesti2.5 stars
The story would have been great. But ultimately hollow at best. For a spy novel/thriller, there weren’t a lot of thrills. Luca was interesting. But Mr. smith was truly a bore. I expected more from his character other than those petty revelations.
If there ends up being another book, more specifically about Luca/Evelyn and Ryan and how they go about business. I’d read that. ...more
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