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eloquentmuse's reviews
1004 reviews
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-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
Enjoyable fantasy-romance comedy between a grumpy and a sunshine.
After the female MC is attacked by her employer, she desperately needs employment. Her family is poor, a severely ill father and younger sister reliant on her earnings. She runs into a mysterious and handsome villain who is taken instantly by her intelligence and hires her as his secretary. What choice does she have?
There’s a mystery and a rat to sniff out, and the MC spreads her sunshine as she acts as detective. She works in the villain’s castle office that is full of his newest victims’ hanging heads, a talking prince frog, and a dragon.
This was fun and a light read; however, there’s definitely dark and gory situations, sensitive issues discussed, and crazy plot twists.
It’s worth a read.
After the female MC is attacked by her employer, she desperately needs employment. Her family is poor, a severely ill father and younger sister reliant on her earnings. She runs into a mysterious and handsome villain who is taken instantly by her intelligence and hires her as his secretary. What choice does she have?
There’s a mystery and a rat to sniff out, and the MC spreads her sunshine as she acts as detective. She works in the villain’s castle office that is full of his newest victims’ hanging heads, a talking prince frog, and a dragon.
This was fun and a light read; however, there’s definitely dark and gory situations, sensitive issues discussed, and crazy plot twists.
It’s worth a read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this book. It’s a fantasy romance set in a world that runs on science, magic, and gods. The main character has been dying since she was born, and her love interest is the local vampire hermit.
I liked how well thought out the plot, the characterization, and even their growing romance seemed to be. The god of nature is cruel and fickle but not evil. The vampire-since-birth is ignorant of humanity’s most innate knowledge: the briefness of life, desperation of dying, the inevitability of death. The humans are stiff-necked and narrow in their views and stubborn in their refusal to risk their short lives to better the world. Love is presented in its many forms as the one thing worth living and dying for.
It was poetic in ways and lighthearted in ways. Well worth a read.
I liked how well thought out the plot, the characterization, and even their growing romance seemed to be. The god of nature is cruel and fickle but not evil. The vampire-since-birth is ignorant of humanity’s most innate knowledge: the briefness of life, desperation of dying, the inevitability of death. The humans are stiff-necked and narrow in their views and stubborn in their refusal to risk their short lives to better the world. Love is presented in its many forms as the one thing worth living and dying for.
It was poetic in ways and lighthearted in ways. Well worth a read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness
The Audient and The Phantom Night by Sadie Hewitt
You get hints of it and the ending expressed a different mythological/divine world that stayed a mystery.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a light romantic fantasy book set on the high seas with a secret magic user and a pirate.
I felt like this was enjoyable but could’ve been better. There was a more detailed background, world, and plot just peeking from the edges that never revealed themselves. The characters did develop into better more tolerable people, but there was something missing deeper that would’ve made them more well-rounded.
Overall, this was a good, surface level read with potential.
I felt like this was enjoyable but could’ve been better. There was a more detailed background, world, and plot just peeking from the edges that never revealed themselves. The characters did develop into better more tolerable people, but there was something missing deeper that would’ve made them more well-rounded.
Overall, this was a good, surface level read with potential.
Content Warnings
Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a dark fantasy romance with a slow burn romance. Caught up in a dark torturous past, a Siren calls on the help of a mysterious and dangerous Fae called the Bargainer. In exchange for favors, he can help her out, but will she be left owing too much? Two flawed characters take a journey towards knowing themselves and falling in love. First in a series, so readers are left on a cliffhanger of sorts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Suicide
The Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 1 by Kore Yamazaki
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well-written and a plot that pulls you in for more. This is almost exactly the same story as A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne. Opal was allegedly inspired by this graphic novel.
This is a monster romance about a magical human who is sold into slavery and bought by a monster with a skull head. He buys her to become his mage apprentice but also, as the title implies, his bride.
This is only volume 1 so I may very well read the rest.
This is a monster romance about a magical human who is sold into slavery and bought by a monster with a skull head. He buys her to become his mage apprentice but also, as the title implies, his bride.
This is only volume 1 so I may very well read the rest.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Death of parent, and Abandonment
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
I enjoyed this book. Listened to it as an audiobook via Hoopla.
This is a mostly realistic story with fantastical elements. It takes part in two time periods: 1940s with Opaline and modern day with Henry and Martha.
A mysterious bookshop that appears and disappears as it wills is at the center of everyone’s adventures. A tree is growing at its center. Strange events, “coincidences”, and possible spirits surround this shop. It’s almost as if the bookshop is alive and guiding these people through life and toward fulfillment, wisdom, and love.
This novel has the potential to reach 5 stars for its timeless lessons and relatable characters.
This is a mostly realistic story with fantastical elements. It takes part in two time periods: 1940s with Opaline and modern day with Henry and Martha.
A mysterious bookshop that appears and disappears as it wills is at the center of everyone’s adventures. A tree is growing at its center. Strange events, “coincidences”, and possible spirits surround this shop. It’s almost as if the bookshop is alive and guiding these people through life and toward fulfillment, wisdom, and love.
This novel has the potential to reach 5 stars for its timeless lessons and relatable characters.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
The Rehearsals by Annette Christie
!!!!
Possible spoiler alert
!!!!
Groundhog Day has arrived on San Juan Island. There are many twists and turns that teach our characters, and us readers, real lessons about life and relationships of all kinds. I love how it has a realistic ending instead of pushing for a happy sappy ending that would not make sense with everything that the characters went through.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
I accidentally deleted a long review, so hopefully I remember everything again lol.
Wow. This is a very well-written modern day Romantasy. I closed the book feeling hopeful and satisfied.
It follows two POVS, a fiancé and fiancée. These two lovers are finally tying the knot after being together for over a decade, but the Universe has something to teach them before they go through with it.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Wow. This is a very well-written modern day Romantasy. I closed the book feeling hopeful and satisfied.
It follows two POVS, a fiancé and fiancée. These two lovers are finally tying the knot after being together for over a decade, but the Universe has something to teach them before they go through with it.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross
Spoilers!!!!!!
*********
The villain toward the end was so hilariously dramatic, she reminded me of those animes where the “camera pans” to the bad guy’s face who is evil cackling and giving dramatic poses. Anyway, that pulled me out of the story and my suspension of disbelief.
Also, it was cute that love was the answer, but I can’t help to feel like it went flat. Maybe it was the villain in the background still throwing me off.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Beauty and the beast vibes anyone? This was an enjoyable light read. It’s an urban fantasy romance between two artists, one who is a hex-breaker witch and one who happens to be a werewolf burdened with a hex.
Has a good plot, relatable characters, and dashes of humor.
Has a good plot, relatable characters, and dashes of humor.
Content Warnings
The Last Storm by J.D. Linton
I have no idea what defines a spoiler honestly, so
spoiler alert!!!!!!!
Tropes include:
Only one bed at the inn/bar
Dissatisfaction with life before hunk appears
Lost royalty
The chosen one
Montage of dress up time followed by shocked hunk
Forbidden romance between two from rival peoples
Power that cannot be controlled, simply guided/asked
Gathering intel at the inn/bar
FMC who knows how to fight/use weapons well
There’s probably more but no need to list them all.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.0
This is a great Romantasy book full of action, adventure, and everything you look for in this genre.
I won’t lie: it does kinda feel like the author found every common trope from every successful book of this kind and threw them all into this novel. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it I guess. Especially in romance, there’s a large audience who has specific expectations, and they want them every time. Nothing wrong with that and many times I’m one of them.
Good story and I would recommend!
I won’t lie: it does kinda feel like the author found every common trope from every successful book of this kind and threw them all into this novel. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it I guess. Especially in romance, there’s a large audience who has specific expectations, and they want them every time. Nothing wrong with that and many times I’m one of them.
Good story and I would recommend!
Content Warnings
Too Wild to Tame by Tessa Bailey
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
I enjoyed this. This is a contemporary romance set in Iowa, mostly the backwoods or small town setting. We have the man who has difficulty opening up, expressing or even allowing himself to have emotions. He was raised to be a politician. Then, we have the woman, who was raised to be a politicians daughter but has fought it and that lifestyle ever since. She almost feels “too much” and is the free, creative spirit. They both have histories that haunt them.
It’s a light, fast-paced read, and it balances on the fine line of just enough spice. I actually teared up at one point but unrelated to the romantic relationship. The characters are fleshed out, and the FMC was refreshingly different, even if she liked to communicate via almost stream-of-consciousness style.
Solid read.
It’s a light, fast-paced read, and it balances on the fine line of just enough spice. I actually teared up at one point but unrelated to the romantic relationship. The characters are fleshed out, and the FMC was refreshingly different, even if she liked to communicate via almost stream-of-consciousness style.
Solid read.