incandescentreads's reviews
1236 reviews

The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper

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2.0

Rating : 2 ⭐
The first part of the book was the most interesting part of the trilogy for me, with the political manoeuvring in Rome during the transition of power. But it ultimately had zero impact on the overall plot. The rest of the book revolved around the volcanic eruption, which the characters managed to escape through sheer dumb luck, and a romance I didn't feel any investment in. The first book really was the peak for this trilogy.
Around the World in 80 Games by Marcus du Sautoy

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3.0

Rating : 3 ⭐
This was interesting, but the book didn't feel fully committed to one overall goal. It wanted to be a history of games, a philosophical discussion on the concept of games, and an exploration of the mathematical principles behind famous games all at once. I still enjoyed it even though I wish it had had a tighter direction.
The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper

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2.5

Rating : 2,5 ⭐
The set up for the third book was interesting, but a lot of the story felt repetitive. I'm hoping it was just second book syndrome.
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

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3.5

Rating : 3,5 ⭐
I enjoyed the characters, plot and themes of this book. My one issue with it was the writing style, it felt extremely modern and I found it hard to stay immersed in the historical setting because of it. Also, the characters didn't exactly feel like fully realized people living in the first century because the dialogue sounded too modern. Aside from that, I appreciated the ways in which the life of slaves was depicted in a very honest and unflinching manner, without becoming trauma porn. The ending is definitely promising, and I'm looking forward to continuing in this series.
Playing It Safe by Ashley Weaver

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2.0

Rating : 2 ⭐
This book started out with an interesting plot, but the execution wasn't the best. I wish the love triangle could move faster towards a resolution. The cliffhanger at the end annoyed me, rather than make me intrigued for the next book. To me, this series is fine but not spectacular in any way.
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire

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2.0

Rating : 2 ⭐
This book felt kinda like a random sequence of events. It wasn't the most enjoyable in the series for me.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

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4.5

 Rating : 4,5 ⭐
I enjoyed it even more while re-reading it physically.

Rating : 4 ⭐
The diary format was used effectively, it really worked for this story. The characters felt unique and the plot was interesting. The ending hit the right balance between wrapping up the story and setting up a plot line for the sequel. The romance was understated, but it felt true to the characters. I'm looking forward to seeing it develop more in the next instalment. The audiobook narration was great. 
The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver

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2.0

Rating : 2 ⭐
The mystery felt similar to the first book, but I still mostly enjoyed it. The love triangle was irritating, I hope it gets resolved in the next book.