bekahzabel's reviews
321 reviews

Fan Fiction Placeholder/The Gallows by gillianeliza

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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Say You Swear by Meagan Brandy

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

did i cry? yes, so that means it was a success. 
was it an ugly sob for the last 50 pages? yes. 

is noah riley the spitting image of what we want every man to be for us? also yes. 

arianna was eating and leaving no crumbs in this man’s kitchen, quite literally.

my mom always taught me: the way they treat their mother is the way they will treat you….. noah riley sure checked that box now didn’t he???? 

themes: 
love triangle,
finding self in first year of college,
he falls first, hard
dual POV
protective older brother & supportive best friends,
finding love after heartbreak, 
college football romance 

there were a couple plot twists that really worked for me. i also love that there were multiple side characters that i grew fond of and it wasn’t strictly focused on the MC’s. i loved the beach house to college setting, and i loved the slow burn and tension.

the dialogue did feel a bit choppy to me occasionally, and at times there was a more juvenile tone to the romance but overall i really enjoyed this one. I mean they’re young adults so it makes sense as to why there were juvenile moments but it warmed my heart to read a first true love story esque plot. 

3.75⭐️/🌶️🌶️

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Christmas Ghosts: A Dark Romance Novella by N.M. Jenson

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dark lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

A smutty Christmas cabin in the woods experience indeed. Pure smut, 3 ghosts, one girl 🫣👀

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Secrets and Masks by Emerald_Slytherin

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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Where's Molly by H.D. Carlton

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

🐖🩸🔪☠️🖤

3.5🌟 rounded up// 🌶️🌶️🌶️
dark, naughty, & deranged. a quick one that i’m glad i crossed off my list before the end of 2024. love getting a look into side characters within the HA universe. I think I enjoyed this one and sibby’s story equally. love when he falls first & hard. trigger packed novella- not for everyone, i like it psychotic tho so idk 

rounding up especially because of the extended epilogue 🫣🌹🥀😍

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Master of Salt & Bones by Keri Lake

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I ripped through this one after finishing Noticadia, I enjoyed this one almost as much, but felt the pacing was just slightly off until the end.

Dark gothic romance jam packed with triggers. I enjoyed Lucian’s character arc and the way the mystery of the Blackthorne family unfolded. Did not expect that plot twist at the end either! 

Forbidden Love, 
Age Gap,
BDSM,
Breath & 🔪 Play,
Slow Burn with serious spice once it hits.

3.75⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️.

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Nocticadia by Keri Lake

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dark mysterious tense medium-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? No

4.5

ZADDY DEVRYCK BRAMWELL 👀🤤

I ate it up. A slow burn, taboo, forbidden romance between a student and her fiiiiiine a$$ professor. Also that last 100 pages was a roller coaster tying all the ends together phew. Some minor paranormal elements but for the most part this was purely dark romance. Very engaging plot with a handful of smutty scenes.  

Dark themes! Check your triggers. My first Keri Lake book, but won’t be my last. 
4.5⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

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Jade War by Fonda Lee

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dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

6 gold stars. 

This series is so immersive. Again, Fonda Lee had me so engaged with each character’s storyline that I was constantly needing more. This book takes place over a 3 year timeline and is just as action packed as Jade City. 

I don’t know how she topped the first book, but it makes me so excited to read the finale. Addictive urban asian fantasy with a badass magic system, Green Bone Saga is not one to be overlooked. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️

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A Soul to Embrace by Opal Reyne

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

It is so bittersweet to see this series to it’s end! If you know me, you know how much I love the duskwalker brides series. Picked it up out of curiosity and stuck around for the amazing plot line. Another thing I love: a villain’s redemption arc, and boy oh boy was it a treat to see Jabez redeem himself. 

Not only is Zylah the first and only female duskwalker we get perspective in, it was such a treat to watch her humanity and understanding grow. That slow burn really kindles in this one but once the flame ignites…. phew 🥵🥵🥵

Additionally hearing Jabez’s inner monologue, reasoning behind his actions and villainous choices in the past was huge. I really enjoyed this one and ended up loving Jabez much more than I expected. I’m so sad for this series to end, but grateful nonetheless for experiencing these books that I’ll always suggest and recommend to monster romance lovers. 

4.75⭐️/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Taken by the Wisps by Ali Evers

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was such a cute and cozy fast paced treat! When Yera and her foster sisters head out for their annual hiking trip, a storm hits in the forest and Yera suddenly portals to a magical land. Running into grave danger right away, she is saved by a Vaki named Arrick. They embark on a journey to find her sisters as affections quickly unfold. 

I LOVED how many magical beings were sprinkled throughout this book. We have Vaki (seemingly crosses between orcs and demon?!), ogres, sprites, fairies, winged beasts called harpies, and more. 

Portal Fantasy,
Monster Romance,
Voluptuous bodied & brown logical fmc who can hold her own!
Low stakes plot with a heartwarming HEA.
and yes, there is spice! I’m so excited to read the next book in this interconnected series. A beautiful debut by Ali Evers.
4.5⭐️/🌶️🌶️

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