condls27's reviews
300 reviews

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was a strange and wild ride. I think a lot of this book was too smart for me, I felt a lot of things going over my head but I feel like I got the general gist in the end. I adored the banter and humor. It broke my heart a little bit too but I’m glad I read it. 
Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

Go to review page

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

3.0

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. I think I was hoping this would have the same vibes of How to Sell a Haunted House- mysterious, heartfelt and darkly funny but instead we got a weird monologue about pizza crust and an ending you could see coming. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn

Go to review page

emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

I can confidently say this will be one of the top (if not the top) reads of this year. I went into this thinking the romance was going to be the subplot of the story and assumed this would be more about Jess and Tegan finding their mom but I was so wrong! From the jump the yearning and the brooding had me swooning. I loved how angsty this was. I loved watching Adam see Jess so clearly from the moment they meant just the whole thing was like the best punch to the heart ever. I will be thinking about this book for a very long time. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Worthy of Fate by A.N. Caudle

Go to review page

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

1.0

This was such a let down. From the jump this book felt like a mess. The world building was so clunky, there’s too much going on with the Worthy, the Sages, the Nations, the Spirits and the Gods. I’m a seasoned fantasy reader and as juvenile as the writing was, it took me a couple chapters to work out what the hell was going on. 

To start, the trial was a giant nothing burger. The FMC is supposed to be this badass but gets her ass handed to her 90% of the time. The book just didn’t need it. It would’ve made more sense if the “Worthy” were chosen at birth or something if you were going to put that little effort into the trials. 

There was no foreshadowing in this book. Instead, all the plot twists were on giant, illuminated billboards you could see a mile away.
The second she asked her Spirit Animal (which feels hella problematic) if they can die, I knew that pony was done for but I didn’t even care because he was barely in the book other than as an excuse to give her wings. You’re telling me your heart broke for a horse who was essentially in a Zoom meeting with the other spirit animals the entire book?


How a romance can be both insta-love and an annoyingly paced slow burn is beyond me but it was managed here. We all love a protective/possessive shadow daddy but when we have to read “Mine” and “No one will take you from me” 500 times, it begins to lose its luster.
Also, what the hell was the point of Njall during the trial? You already explained the concepts of mates before she entered the trial so why did you have to tease it again here? This is what I meant about the overly complicated world building. To me it wasn’t clear if the current Worthy had to participate in the trial and then when author teased the mate thing with Njall, I assumed it was Ryker using a fake name for some reason yet to be disclosed. It wasn’t until Ryker’s POV after the trial where we get an explanation on what happens to the current Worthy during the trial. So again I ask, what the hell was the point Niall?!


I couldn’t stop focusing on the plot holes.
At one point, the FMC is trying to find more info about a book that the MMC later has stolen from her home/library and 1. Never asks her what the book is the whole time they’re looking for it or 2. Mentions that he already dispatched a team to break into her library/home to steal the same book. Like literally at that point in the story, they were friendly enough he could’ve just asked for it and called off his minions but he magically forgets about it until a bunch of scholars get murdered and there’s a giant crack in the building.


I should’ve DNF-d but this book already tanked my reading goal so I slogged through it but I would not recommend this. 
Afflicted by R.D. Baker

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 52%.
The concept of this was promising but the writing was so poor, the story never got off the ground. 

Obviously we have to suspend our disbelief for dark romances especially a paranormal dark romance but it’s the author’s job to make that as easy as possible. I found myself looking for plot holes instead of getting lost in the story because there were so many inconsistencies. The worst inconsistency was a vampire admitting her family owned slaves and while she was regretful, she had zero problem with essentially doing the same thing again with this blood harvesting compound.  I should’ve DNF-d after that sentence I have no clue why I trudged on. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Look, I will devour anything Ali Hazelwood blesses us with so I knew I was going to love this but I had no idea just how much. The tone of this book is so different from her prior books. Sure, we still get the STEMinist, witty banter, he falls first (and HARD) HEA romance we’re all familiar with but the angst, oh the angst was so good. I loved how gritty this was, it was so refreshing to see two imperfect, damaged people find a way to love. And I am veteran when it comes to spicy romances but Ali had me blushing! I’m going to have the worst book hangover from this and it will be so worth it. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

Go to review page

dark emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I always have a good time with Brynne Weaver book! The banter was great and I enjoyed the story I just got stuck on how Lark could be a “multiple deleter” and Sloane not knowing or it be mentioned in the first book. I understand why she is, it just almost felt forced for this book. I wish it focused more on the mystery of who was attacking her family but I still had fun and will absolutely continue the series  
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

Go to review page

dark funny slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I love any story where the stereotypical good guys are actually the bad guys so I had fun with this book. I’m glad I read the audio version, the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life but it took me longer than usual to finish compared to other books of similar length. I felt like some parts dragged and the chapters were too long. The ending felt a little meh but I still had a good time. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Savor It by Tarah DeWitt

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted fast-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

5.0

I absolutely adored this! Perfect summer read with so much heart. The banter was so good, the small town was charming without being too silly and the pinch of spice was so perfect. I love a book that makes me laugh and cry so hard my cheeks hurt. Can we make this a series with all her brothers?! I want to live in this world forever please and thank you!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Throne of Honor and Blood by J. Bree

Go to review page

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

2.5

I want to preface this by saying that I think this is a good story and I know people will enjoy this series but it’s just not for me. I think the reason it didn’t work was the writing style. It waffled between being over descriptive and repetitive to expecting us to know things that happened off page. 

My second biggest complaint was the complete lack of groveling. Soren was a dick the entire first book which I didn’t mind, it made it a true enemies to lovers so I was eating it up! But if you’re going to make him that horrendously mean, then he better WORK for her forgiveness the second he realizes his mistake. Rooke even says “you’re going to have to beg for my help” at the end of book one but then it’s business as usual in book two. We get some inner monologue pining from Soren, a few growls and that’s it. None of the characters from the inner circle ever say the words “I’m sorry” for the terrible way they treated her in the first book. It just made the payoff at the end barely worth it. I skimmed the one spicy scene we get because I just did not care about their relationship at all. 

All that said, I think if you like J. Bree’s writing style you’ll love this series. If you didn’t like her previous series, you probably won’t like this one either.