tianabooks's reviews
174 reviews

3.75 ★

Rich people drama will always be so entertaining. 🫣
I read this book SO fast and was highly amused — albeit also frustrated at times; you win some, you lose some I guess??

One of the things which worked for this story is that there is a lot of communication… and I do mean A LOT.🫣 I absolutely despise the miscommunication trope because, most of the time, it’s done in such an aggravating way and it doesn’t add anything to the story. Here however, Ares and Raven communicated a lot and tried, to the best of their abilities, to find the right solutions.

The drama was still there though — sometimes it got sliiightly repetitive. 🙃 I’m sure we could all predict the last 20-30%. Not a bad thing for everyone, just got a bit too much for me!

Raven’s sister Hannah and their mum were the most narcissistic and annoying characters EVER. Props to Raven, she’s a better person than me lmao
In fact she’s a better person than all of them here 🥲 some of the other side characters - Ares’ family etc - were lovely and I’m excited for their respective books! 

Still thoroughly entertained 🥳💫

💍 marriage of convenience 
💍 friends to lovers 
💍 sister’s ex fiancé 
💍 ‘it’s always been you’ vibes 
💍 a lot of communication 

“I’ll protect who you protect. I’ll love who you love. I’ll hate who you hate.”

anyway that’s done! this got so over-the-top for no reason — now, don’t get me wrong, I was in it for the excessive drama but it got a bit ridiculous. 🙃 
also, you’re telling me we “wrapped up” the first couple of the series in 3 books but some plot points weren’t even resolved??? and this will drag further with more books? I was excited for Zane’s books but like… not the same plot again 🥲

I couldn’t tell you why I keep reading these books but I’m absolutely devouring them — they’re so addictive 😭 

There’s so much (unnecessary) drama that’s been happening since book one and it’s still going on here. I honestly feel like nothing really happened here until maybe the last 20% of the book. And I’m so incredibly confused because the ending was some classic soap opera type of ending 🥲 but boy am I here for it, I’m too curious for my own good lmao

two books in two days, can we tackle book three??

I’m not gonna lie, I was so entertained and finished this in a day — we love consistency 🤭

“You’re right. I’m not a good person. But if there’s any light left inside me, it’s all drawn to you.” 

You give me the bully version of gossip girl and I’m here to stay. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you why I binged this… but the drama omg 
Also how nobody figured out the wig situation is beyond me 🥲 

In any case, reading on — I mean, I have to know??

another adorable christmas book ❄️🎄

this is my second book by this author and both have been successful reads for me! 🩵 I love the wholesomeness and the cute (or not 🫣) aspects of the book — the seasonal vibes, the festivities, the characters being so gone for each other. And also the funniest dog as a side character??? Yes please! Winn rights for the win 🤭

I read the extended epilogue and the vibes were immaculate, would absolutely recommend this! 

There was a mention of Aspen Grove and the next couple of that series and I got SO excited! I was like I knowwww them - I can’t wait to catch up with the Aspen Grove series and be reunited with my little found family 🤭😭

where is MY billionaire??!
a quick and cute little novella 🤭

look away if you know me <3
also good for them tbh, they put merry in christmas… must be nice 🥲 also absolutely no plot lmao 
I’m starting to think I’d read anything by this author, two hits in a row??? 🤭

winter time requires some hockey romance, right?? 🏒⛸️

definitely not my favourite by this author — I liked that there was mental health rep in this, you don’t get that often in books or at least done in a way that doesn’t feel wrong.
I think what put me off the most with this book was how miscommunication was everywhere. So much drama which could’ve been avoided SO easily if they chose to talk openly to each other on multiple occasions 🥲.
The fake dating aspect wasn’t as present as I would’ve personally liked but this didn’t bother me as much the previous point did.

not bad but as I said, not my favourite by this author — so far, The Revenge Pact still holds the number one spot. 🥳

“No one expects the truth from me anyway.”

Perhaps one of the greatest audiobook experiences and one of the best audiobooks I’ve encountered in a while! 
In fact, I had to go and pick up the paperback copy too just to complete the collection and the reading journey 🫣. The format was just so good - I absolutely adored the podcast segments, especially as a true crime podcast listener. There were times when I forgot I was listening to a fictional story and not an actual podcast. 

The characters are complex, in an intriguing way. I mean…it’s a small town and that small town mentality is definitely depicted here. And what it means for a young woman to feel trapped in that setting. 

All the little twists and who interacted with whom had me shocked 😨. 
Plus, the interactions between Lucy and Ben were SO fascinating. Intrusive thought went wild too 🙃

Pick this uppppp 

“One for the fire, two for the storm.” 🤍

Magic, prophecies, forbidden love and a darkness threatening to destroy everything - sounds like quite the adventure, right?

Reading Fate and Fury was like going on an unexpected journey without knowing what awaits when you get there. The description might prepare you for a few plot points but it doesn't prepare you for the feelings of anguish and pure internal (and external, depending on the situation) torment that Katerina and Niko experience throughout the story. The depiction of said feelings was vivid and you could almost feel what they were feeling. It was PAINFUL at times like give them a break please 😭

The writing in this book was beautiful. It's descriptive in nature, so I will say it might not be for everyone. However, when it comes to fantasy - even more so, fantasy with rich lore as its basis - I find myself enjoying and almost craving vivid descriptions, the writing which will make me feel jealous I am not actively part of this world. Not that I'm asking to come face-to-face with the ever-growing Darkness... I think I'll leave that in the capable hands of Katerina and Niko. 🫣 The descriptions are not burdening the book, in fact they enrich this world and paint it with beautiful colours.

"No matter where she was, he was home." 🤍

I enjoyed the multiple perspectives! This is one of the few cases where we , aside from the main character's perspective, we get POVs of the villain(s) of the story whose intentions/actions/thoughts are not a predictable black & white hue. Even the villains of the story had their own reasonings - some were more twisted than others but you do get exposed to their side of things. One of the revealed villains though I could do without....thanks! 🙃 Selfish purposes. 

The lore and backstory of this world were so interesting to read about - saints, prophecies, different roles for each character. We get exposed to pieces of this backstory slowly throughout the book and each time it added a bit more to what we knew.

I would have liked, perhaps due to the description of this book, to spend more time at the actual trials. I found fascinating the political side of this story - when our two main characters attended the trials and they interacted with the ruling figures/establishment. I thought they would play a larger role; however, it was in the beginning and didn't take up much time. It was such a promising point, which I was looking forward to, and there was not enough time spent there. Obviously, the plot ventured towards a different direction - which IS hinted at - but the trials were a personal preference of mine.

Overall, such an enjoyable first instalment in this duology! Given THAT cliffhanger... could the second book please magically appear in front of me?? Because what do you MEAN we have to wait?? 🥲

A massive thank you to NetGalley, Emily Colin, and Black Orchid Books for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review - all the aforementioned opinions are my own.

Go read this! 🤍