Try as I might, I couldn't finish this. I pushed myself through to the spicy scene everyone talks about, found it lacking and somewhat squicky, and st Try as I might, I couldn't finish this. I pushed myself through to the spicy scene everyone talks about, found it lacking and somewhat squicky, and stopped after that. I didn't like the characters; didn't like the writing, which was rough and simplistic (including multiple typos in the text); and didn't like the trajectory of the romance. I truly can't understand why it's a bestseller, but at least I can say I gave it a try....more
Not as good as the first title in the duology (The Serpent and the Wings of Night), but still an enjoyable read, especially for a self-published title Not as good as the first title in the duology (The Serpent and the Wings of Night), but still an enjoyable read, especially for a self-published title....more
Better than I expected, with solid writing and consistent pacing. It's not breaking ground in any new ways in the fantasy romance/romantasy genre, but Better than I expected, with solid writing and consistent pacing. It's not breaking ground in any new ways in the fantasy romance/romantasy genre, but I still found it an enjoyable read overall. I was also impressed with how clean the text was and well-formatted, given its self-published nature. Conversely, while it was an easy read, there was something lacking, whether with pacing, which was consistent but felt slow, or the romantic build-up, which didn't give me as much emotional punch as I had hoped. Regardless, I'll likely read the next one to see where the story leads. Definitely far superior in craft to books like From Blood and Ash....more
Similar to its predecessor, Fourth Wing, IRON FLAME does a lot of things well in terms of reaching its target audie A short mini-review months late....
Similar to its predecessor, Fourth Wing, IRON FLAME does a lot of things well in terms of reaching its target audience, but it takes a lot longer to get there in this slog of a novel that's a quarter-million words long. I read it and I enjoyed it, but I still found myself wishing for a tighter text, fewer unnecessary fight scenes where the outcome is always the same, and less of the "why won't you share with me?" back and forth between the two leads. There was also a lot of messy and unclear worldbuilding with the luminary and wardstones and with the basic magic system. I also wish the ending of the book hadn't seemed so obvious in its trajectory (view spoiler)[anyone who's read any amount of paranormal romance knows that bringing back one's lover from the dark side is an established trope and there's no real risk here to their relationship (hide spoiler)] and that the end point for Violet across the series not so obvious (view spoiler)[clear hints about a prophecy and her being the Chosen One TM (hide spoiler)]. However, having said that, I really enjoyed seeing the friendships developed more, the evolution of Andarna, and what I believe is the building of a foundation for better and more intriguing worldbuilding in coming books. I'm sure I will still snap up the next book when it comes out just to see where things go next....more
Oh, I have read other Colleen Hoover books before, but wow, this one takes the cake for being the most utterly repugnant from the get-go DNF @ page 68.
Oh, I have read other Colleen Hoover books before, but wow, this one takes the cake for being the most utterly repugnant from the get-go. At least it gives the reader fair warning by being gross from the jump, I guess? Start with super-horrible trauma for the female main character, which defines her and stands in for real character development, and then enter the absolutely most overconfident and skeevy male protagonist to verbally, emotionally, and sexually abuse said FMC within hours of meeting her in order to help her see the "real truth" about her beautiful self. Nope, nope, nopity, nope. None of this was romantic or appealing in the least, and I don't want to waste another 200+ pages of reading to see the author somehow try to turn this into a love story or redemption arc or what have you. Also, the writing and voice of each character was weak and juvenile, and there's so much breaking of the fourth wall, which is a personal pet peeve. This feels like the worst kind of story where the author knows what they're doing, knows it's gross and wrong, and yet decides to still do it anyway under the guise of making it "sweet" and "epic" somehow. Hard NO. I don't think I have loathed a book this much in a *long* while, and that's saying a lot. ...more
ETA 08/2023: Watched the Amazon Prime adaptation, and it was a surprisingly tender rom-com. I think the movie probably cut out most of the annoying paETA 08/2023: Watched the Amazon Prime adaptation, and it was a surprisingly tender rom-com. I think the movie probably cut out most of the annoying parts that made it impossible for me to move forward with this book, though the pop-culture references that will soon become dated were still there.
Original review: I know many love this book, but I couldn't make it past the second chapter. Both main characters come off as childish and immature, despite their lifelong grooming for positions of power and influence, and I'm not interested in seeing them have a love-hate relationship. I'm also not feeling anything right now that elevates and idolizes the monarchy, though that's my own issue, not the book's....more
I've been in such a reading slump during the pandemic that I haven't read a novel to completion in six months, so I thought I would try something indu I've been in such a reading slump during the pandemic that I haven't read a novel to completion in six months, so I thought I would try something indulgent and easy. I've read two prior books from Mia Sheridan with middling results, so when this one popped up as a Kindle Unlimited recommendation, I decided to try it.
Pros: I finished it.
Cons: It was so bad. Very little happened in the plot, what character development happened didn't seem plausible, there was no real connection between the love interests, and lots of convenient fixes popped up near the end, all held together with weak, repetitive writing that didn't move the plot forward and never made me feel anything for the characters.
Here's to hoping this gets me out of my reading slump, though, and leads me to greener reading pastures....more
While FLUTTER could have been a moving and poignant examination of the effects of trauma (view spoiler)[(unplanned pregnancy, abortion, and attempted While FLUTTER could have been a moving and poignant examination of the effects of trauma (view spoiler)[(unplanned pregnancy, abortion, and attempted suicide) (hide spoiler)] on a high-school relationship and beyond, the key points of the plot were too inconceivable for me to take the novel seriously. Set in the present day, the story flashes back six years to the high school romance of Dylan and Presley and the events and people that drove them apart. Though a relatively typical romantic plot arc ensued, it was marred by absurd plot points and side characters who appeared as simple caricatures of villains or saviors. The murder-mystery element could have been interesting, but it was uncomfortably linked with the story of a young boy's trauma and resulting dissociative identity disorder (DID) with convenient and likely inaccurate portrayals of a misunderstood condition. The writing itself also came across as weak, with continuity errors about Presley's timeline and entirely too many convenient inaccuracies about medical school training and psych ward procedures. While I wanted to feel the love and commitment between the two main characters, it was primarily told, not shown, through declarations of love and lots of face-holding and murmuring, but little else. I'm sure there are many readers who will eat up this story of doomed love recovered, but I needed more character development and plot authenticity....more
After reading yet another of Colleen Hoover's books that centers on a plot of people suffering unthinkable trauma that somehow morphs into love and (d After reading yet another of Colleen Hoover's books that centers on a plot of people suffering unthinkable trauma that somehow morphs into love and (detailed) sex fixing all, I have created a new shelf for plots like these (which are so overrepresented in new adult lit): trauma-porn-romance....more
Nothing truly wrong with this title, despite its Twlight-fan-fiction origins, but there's not much to it except for insta-lust between the two main ch Nothing truly wrong with this title, despite its Twlight-fan-fiction origins, but there's not much to it except for insta-lust between the two main characters and the requisite arrogant and cocky hero who will surely be reformed by the heroine....more
Wow, that was so much better than the first book in the series. Minus the overdone and too-detailed sex scenes, I enjoyed all of this. If the author cWow, that was so much better than the first book in the series. Minus the overdone and too-detailed sex scenes, I enjoyed all of this. If the author can keep this up, I might even consider myself a fan. Oh, and this is definitely *not* YA; it's New Adult or better yet, just good, commercial fantasy....more
Though I should have been delighted with this novel due to its premise (witty banter and butting of heads between a liberal and a conservative leads t Though I should have been delighted with this novel due to its premise (witty banter and butting of heads between a liberal and a conservative leads to romance), the failed execution nearly made this a DNF....more
Despite the story's potential to have a quirky and interesting protagonist, the heroine's characterization felt all over the place and I couldn't sympDespite the story's potential to have a quirky and interesting protagonist, the heroine's characterization felt all over the place and I couldn't sympathize or believe in her character....more
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