paocmanfra's reviews
162 reviews

Mercy by Sara Cate

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

3.75

Honestly, I’ll give it to the author that the dialogue feels very human. Which is sometimes hard to find in these kinds of books. I found myself wincing at some of the BDSM scenes but I guess that means it’s done right? The exploration of masculinity and feminine freedom was really well done and it was an interesting look into this dynamic coming from someone who doesn’t know anything about this world. I particularly appreciated that there was extremely minimal dancing around calling body parts for what they are. 

As my friend Al said, may this kink never find me. 
Vaesen: Spirits and Monsters of Scandinavian Folklore - Anniversary Edition by Johan Egerkrans

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informative medium-paced

4.0

Another beautiful look at Norse mythology but with the addition of broader Scandinavian folklore.
Unhinged by Vera Valentine

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funny fast-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? No

3.0

Listen. Don’t @ me on this one. This is…literally unhinged. I read it in about an hour for an offshoot of spicy book club. It’s….it sure is imaginative.
Ryan Rule by Sadie Kincaid

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dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.0

Read this for spicy book club. I don’t even know how to review a book like this because it’s not like, serious literature lol. It’s a fun time, it’s a weird time. It’s extremely unbelievable and the dialogue is….funny lol. Honestly would read the rest of the series for the spice but I just can’t stand when we have these scenes amidst dialogue sequences that just don’t sound like human beings lol
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Anyone who hates Chaol is my enemy. This is a story of trauma, depression, love, and healing. The pain we hold inside ourselves and the love we give and receive to let it go.

Tandem read 100000000% there simply is no other way
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

Thank god I had the tandem read because otherwise this book would have felt drawn out. It was good and I loved seeing so many people finally come together but Aelin is still just not doing it for me. The story is great and finally feeling some stakes but I’m more interested in everyone else around her.
Priest by Sierra Simone

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

3.75

Norse Gods by Johan Egerkrans

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informative lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.5

Such a gorgeous, in-depth book with stunning illustrations. It’s bound beautifully and gives such a cohesive look at Norse characters and some stories surrounding them. Just a few points off due to typos/translation errors but otherwise this is a stunning piece to have if you enjoy Norse mythology. 
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

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dark sad slow-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

2.5

Wow wow wow was this a snoozefest. I’m so let down after reading the previous book that the plot would stall so hard in this book. It was torturous to get through because it was so damn slow. World building for 400 pages to only get 150 pages of some action? It’s not so much the writing as it is the pacing for me. Literally nothing happened for so so long and when it did I just felt like the payoff took too long to get there. I was all in prior to this book but got so close to DNFing it and I’m going to reaaaaallly struggle continuing with the series, if it do at all.
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.5

This is the SJM I know and love!! The writing in this book in comparison to the previous is leaps and bounds better. I flew through this because I was finally so invested in each character. There was a bunch revealed in this book that was set up so perfectly and I’m finally all in on this series.