Scan barcode
condls27's reviews
301 reviews
The Throne of Honor and Blood by J. Bree
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.
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.
The Crown of Oaths and Curses by J. Bree
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m enjoying this story so far but I struggled to connect with the writing style. It was over descriptive and really repetitive- it could’ve been 200 pages shorter and got the same point across. Rooke is a badass and Soren is a little bitch. The next book better be 98% groveling and 2% plot because if this man isn’t on his knees begging in every page, he can kick rocks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Classism
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Holy gut punch to the heart and soul. That was so perfect I barely have the words.
From the first page I could tell I was going to love this. With Abby Jimenez you’re guaranteed to read an adorable romcom that is packed with such real emotion that it will leave you feeling raw but in the best way possible.
I did not realize this was going to be in the Part of Your World Universe so it was so great to see all the characters we fell in love with before!It had been a while since I read Part of Your World, so I had completely forgotten who Amber was which made the twist at the end ever better. I’m so glad I didn’t see it coming!
From the first page I could tell I was going to love this. With Abby Jimenez you’re guaranteed to read an adorable romcom that is packed with such real emotion that it will leave you feeling raw but in the best way possible.
I did not realize this was going to be in the Part of Your World Universe so it was so great to see all the characters we fell in love with before!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I could tell from the first chapter that this was one of those books I could read in one sitting. I had to force myself to put the book down. This has the haunting and angsty vibes that we got in Spells for Forgetting but still its own unique story. I loved it, Adrienne Young is officially an auto-buy author for me now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content
Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It was educational and self-reflecting. I love how Emily broke down the cult-like control of MLMs and their roots in white supremacy and the patriarchy. I will say, if you’re already anti-MLM you won’t really learn anything new here but I still found it worth the read. I definitely recommend the audiobook, the narration was well done and kept me engaged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Gaslighting
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
adventurous
emotional
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
3.75
I needed something to get me out of a several week long slump and this did the trick! I enjoyed it but it’s definitely dated and the writing was a little odd, kind of stilted but I liked it enough to check out the rest of the series
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Always Only You by Chloe Liese
emotional
funny
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
3.75
I wanted to love this one more but the Harry Potter stuff killed it for me. I appreciate calling out JK for being a TERF and just all around terrible person but I cannot separate art from the artist. There are some many other nerdy fandoms that could’ve been used instead so it was just a bummer.
All that said though, I still enjoyed the book. The world would be a better place if all of the men in it were written by Chloe Liese. And of course, the disability rep was amazing.
All that said though, I still enjoyed the book. The world would be a better place if all of the men in it were written by Chloe Liese. And of course, the disability rep was amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
Lore Olympus: Volume Six by Rachel Smythe
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Toxic relationship
Heartsong by S.E. Wendel
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It might have been my fault for picking this book to be my palate cleanser after the slog that was the last ZA book but I did not connect with this at all. I was mostly bored, I think this could’ve been 100 pages shorter. I liked the chronic illness rep with Anna’s migraines and Frey was sweet but the rest was meh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content
Restless Stars by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Look, no one reads ZA expecting a masterpiece but good god this was a slog. I skimmed it and it still took me a week to get through. It was fine, I liked the final battle but it could’ve been 500 pages shorter.
My biggest complaint was how all over the place the plot was. We’re introduced to a new bad guy who seems unbeatable but literally does jack shit. Same with the Lyra character. Y’all gave us a POV making it seem like she’s going to have a bigger part of the plot and then we never see her again. There was barely any threading of storylines. Either plot points were completely abandoned or a brand new thing that breaks all of the established rules is introduced with no explanation.
Speaking of introducing a new thing out of the blue, what the hell are Moon Mates?! Why can’t you just let them be regular mates like everyone else? I hated that, it felt cheap. Here, be this thing we’ve never mentioned in the prior 8 books and dropped in out of no where even though we already have an established mate system in place. As the only gay couple in the series, it just gave me major side-eye. Why can’t they just be Elysian mates like everyone else? I get that Seth has the whole thing with the moon but still. And while we’re on the subject, why the hell didn’t they make Max and Gerry mates? That poor guy barely had a storyline the least they could’ve done is given him some silver rings.
All of the extra POVs were annoying too. I love Gerry but I can’t take full chapters of her. Same with Washer. The bit gets old and I end up completely skipping their chapters.
I was happy with the epilogues but I just don’t see Tory and Darius as parents to that many kids. That felt out of character to me. They seem like one and done type parents. Also, how the heck does line of succession work? Do Tory’s twins rule next since they were born first or is it Tory’s twins AND Darcy’s oldest? I mean, it’s ZA I’m not sure why I’m expecting plot continuity but here we’re are.
All that said, I’m glad it’s over. The ZA universe was an experience I don’t regret- I’ve never been sucked into a series like that before. I mean I blinked, two weeks of my life had gone by and I had finished the first 7 books. I knew objectively they were bad books but they just had that kind of addictive magic that wouldn’t let me put them down despite being terribly written. The last couple of books just did not have that same magic but at least we got an HEA so I can walk away satisfied.
Speaking of introducing a new thing out of the blue, what the hell are Moon Mates?! Why can’t you just let them be regular mates like everyone else? I hated that, it felt cheap. Here, be this thing we’ve never mentioned in the prior 8 books and dropped in out of no where even though we already have an established mate system in place. As the only gay couple in the series, it just gave me major side-eye. Why can’t they just be Elysian mates like everyone else? I get that Seth has the whole thing with the moon but still. And while we’re on the subject, why the hell didn’t they make Max and Gerry mates? That poor guy barely had a storyline the least they could’ve done is given him some silver rings.
All of the extra POVs were annoying too. I love Gerry but I can’t take full chapters of her. Same with Washer. The bit gets old and I end up completely skipping their chapters.
I was happy with the epilogues but I just don’t see Tory and Darius as parents to that many kids. That felt out of character to me. They seem like one and done type parents. Also, how the heck does line of succession work? Do Tory’s twins rule next since they were born first or is it Tory’s twins AND Darcy’s oldest? I mean, it’s ZA I’m not sure why I’m expecting plot continuity but here we’re are.
All that said, I’m glad it’s over. The ZA universe was an experience I don’t regret- I’ve never been sucked into a series like that before. I mean I blinked, two weeks of my life had gone by and I had finished the first 7 books. I knew objectively they were bad books but they just had that kind of addictive magic that wouldn’t let me put them down despite being terribly written. The last couple of books just did not have that same magic but at least we got an HEA so I can walk away satisfied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and War