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baexlee's reviews
72 reviews
Puck Me Secretly by Odette Stone
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An absolute joy and pleasure - From Lukov with Love is a romantic journey about trust, commitment, sacrifice and what it really means to be an elite athlete.
Home Game by Odette Stone
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall this is a enjoyable fantasy romance with a lot of staples from the genre. I did not initially realize it was Scarlett St. Clair when I picked it up and I may have paused if I had because while I’ve enjoyed her previous books they never feel… sufficient? The story is usually interesting but it often comes off feeling unfinished, usually in the rapid change of character emotions. There are also frequent editing choices that make me question what’s going on (ex. Fulling changing time of day or location without a space or true paragraph break while those exist in other places). It’s a fine and enjoyable read, just nothing to write home about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Gods & Monsters by Shelby Mahurin
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The previous installment to this series had me almost putting it down permanently. Blood & Honey had felt like such a divergence from the characterization of Lou and Reid as we had come to know them, coupled with an absolutely tragic and realistically avoidable character death in the end of the sequel of this trilogy I really thought nothing would bring me back. Ultimately I am glad that I returned for the final installment Gods & Monsters.
While the second installment had many issues that I struggled to overlook, the finale to the series does it's best to correct the mistakes that were made within that second attempt while still maintaining some truth to the story left behind. In all honesty, I had completely blocked out the events of the previous book from my mind because I truly didn't enjoy it, but as I dove back in to the world and was reintroduced to Lou and Reid I was pleased to find that they felt more themselves then they had as they bickered their way through Blood & Honey. The climax of the story arc still fell a bit flat overall, and ultimately there were some aspects of Lou's magic that felt... strangely pointless? It was interesting to see her utilize her magic so... poorly in the grand finale of the series. The ending just didn't pack the fantasy punch I like to see in these kinds of trilogies.
While the second installment had many issues that I struggled to overlook, the finale to the series does it's best to correct the mistakes that were made within that second attempt while still maintaining some truth to the story left behind. In all honesty, I had completely blocked out the events of the previous book from my mind because I truly didn't enjoy it, but as I dove back in to the world and was reintroduced to Lou and Reid I was pleased to find that they felt more themselves then they had as they bickered their way through Blood & Honey. The climax of the story arc still fell a bit flat overall, and ultimately there were some aspects of Lou's magic that felt... strangely pointless? It was interesting to see her utilize her magic so... poorly in the grand finale of the series. The ending just didn't pack the fantasy punch I like to see in these kinds of trilogies.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, and Death of parent
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoiler Alert is a delightful fantasy of what might happen if the internet pen pal in your favorite fandom actually ends up being the actor you’re obsessed with. It’s charming and explores the complexities of online fan communities and the relationships they create in an exciting and genuine way. Both Marcus and April are lovable characters with realistic flaws that pull them together in a world that’s believable in the face of an unbelievable scenario.
Ultimately it just felt longer than necessary. With no spoilers included - it feels like this book has maybe 50 extra pages in the middle that it didn’t necessarily need. Maybe it was all the fanfic snippets that sometimes did or sometimes didn’t have something to do with the overarching storyline. Maybe it was because the other shoe didn’t drop until later than I’d hoped or anticipated. It’s hard to say for certain why the middle pages dragged, but it was the beginning and the end that shine here.
What isn’t hard to say for certain: Olivia Dade is among the many, many scorned Game of Thrones fans who were wildly disappointed with the last season. The parallels and (at times quite direct) call outs really made me laugh.
Ultimately it just felt longer than necessary. With no spoilers included - it feels like this book has maybe 50 extra pages in the middle that it didn’t necessarily need. Maybe it was all the fanfic snippets that sometimes did or sometimes didn’t have something to do with the overarching storyline. Maybe it was because the other shoe didn’t drop until later than I’d hoped or anticipated. It’s hard to say for certain why the middle pages dragged, but it was the beginning and the end that shine here.
What isn’t hard to say for certain: Olivia Dade is among the many, many scorned Game of Thrones fans who were wildly disappointed with the last season. The parallels and (at times quite direct) call outs really made me laugh.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The Hawthorne Legacy is the perfect follow up to the clues and threads left behind in The Inheritance Games. Rather than a new mystery that is uncovered following the seemingly neatly wrapped mystery left behind in the first novel, the new clues and riddles build further on the history of the Hawthorne family and delve deeply into the previous generations secrets and lies. Characters that had previously been semi-developed suddenly have a game of their own left behind, that our main character has the added challenge of uncovering their personal histories in order to understand the clues that Tobias has left behind. Despite never being seen alive in the book, the character of Tobias Tattersall Hawthorne is one of the brightest stars, shown through the clues and patterns of behavior left behind in for Avery to uncover. It's impossible not to have an impression of the both larger than life character he was, as well as the human man that he was behind all the pomp and circumstance.
Ultimately the only reason I cannot give this a five star review is the ending falling a bit flat. After all the clues come together things don't end in a way that was ultimately satisfying. Perhaps it's not meant to truly feel resolved but it felt rushed and a bit half-hearted.
Ultimately the only reason I cannot give this a five star review is the ending falling a bit flat. After all the clues come together things don't end in a way that was ultimately satisfying. Perhaps it's not meant to truly feel resolved but it felt rushed and a bit half-hearted.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
With quick wit and a fast paced mystery Barnes tells a story that is equal parts enthralling romance, clue mansion sleuthing and family drama. Some with even just the shortest descriptions, side characters leap off the page and come to life before your eyes, while the main players of the games dance across the board with undeniable intrigue. Each Hawthorne grandson offers their own thrilling charms that keeps the mystery alive and the threats swirling through the back of your mind. When the third act reveal final pulls everything together, it's not quite the ending you'll come to expect given the stakes, but the crumbs of a new riddle left for the sequel make it hard not to ponder what mysteries are left in Hawthorne House.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Physical abuse