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whiskers_and_lipstick's reviews
837 reviews
Wanted by the Vampires by Erin Bedford
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Narration significantly improved in Book two. The characters feel distinct from one another, easier to keep track of POVs and dialogue.
Indebted to the Vampires by Erin Bedford
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
A Final Paige by L. Rose
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 ⭐️ story
3 ⭐️ narration. Voice actor left a lot to be desired.
3 ⭐️ narration. Voice actor left a lot to be desired.
A Lost Paige by L. Rose
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A Torn Paige by L. Rose
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Gallows Bridge by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
More than anything, the minute-by-minute unfolding of the story across 5 books that ends in an epilogue spanning 3 weeks, then 2 months, then 2 years, then 5 months, and then 16 years has left me forgetting why the story was so compelling in the beginning.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A bit of a disappointing end to a series that started with a lot of promise.
The primary issue with the series, especially its conclusion, is its length. This story could have been told in a trilogy, perhaps with a prequel novella that focused on the tragic end of their friendship as kids. The opening to book 1, Sinner's Playground, was difficult to follow because Rogue's inner monologue was laden with so many names, feelings of betrayal, and cryptic and vague details that it took too long to figure out what/who the problem was. Once the audience is clued in on the fact that the boys (Fox, Maverick, Chase, and JJ) abandoned her and that abandonment led to a life of choices that put her in the hands of a man who choked her to her presumed death and buried her in a shallow grave, things became interesting. However, after finishing the entire series, it feels that the story was crowded with so many subplots, unnecessary story arcs, and filler flashbacks that the necessary details were lost or not treated with the care and attention they deserved.
The primary issue with the series, especially its conclusion, is its length. This story could have been told in a trilogy, perhaps with a prequel novella that focused on the tragic end of their friendship as kids. The opening to book 1, Sinner's Playground, was difficult to follow because Rogue's inner monologue was laden with so many names, feelings of betrayal, and cryptic and vague details that it took too long to figure out what/who the problem was. Once the audience is clued in on the fact that the boys (Fox, Maverick, Chase, and JJ) abandoned her and that abandonment led to a life of choices that put her in the hands of a man who choked her to her presumed death and buried her in a shallow grave, things became interesting. However, after finishing the entire series, it feels that the story was crowded with so many subplots, unnecessary story arcs, and filler flashbacks that the necessary details were lost or not treated with the care and attention they deserved.
- While I enjoyed the inclusion of characters from some of the other series in this universe, I feel like the narration should have focused on the main characters (Rogue, Fox, Maverick, Chase, and JJ) and the villain (Shawn). The inclusion of chapters from Luther, Travis, Saint, and Niall was unnecessary and did nothing to drive the story forward - especially since Luther disappears completely halfway through book 5.
- I didn't mind the flashbacks at first. It felt like in the early books the flashbacks provided insight about character's motivations or the significance of certain events, symbols, places, etc. I thought they were especially effective as Chase was holding onto some glimmer of humanity in his captivity. However, as the story moves on, the flashbacks are so detached from the action they disrupt the story more than support it.
- It also felt like the authors tried to do TOO much, but couldn't really find a way to tie the subplots together - especially as the primary focus was on taking down Shawn. The "war" between Maverick and the others was completely unnecessary. For all Maverick's and Fox's talk of being enemies swearing to take out each other's crews before delivering the final blow, there is only 1 battle between them. The big secret in the crypt was also so unfulfilling and anti-climatic. If the point of the story was repairing a fractured relationship and a second chance at the HEA the characters dreamed of as teens, it didn't need to be overly complicated as the authors made it to be.
- Considering so much attention was given to Rogue demanding agency and control in who she loved and the type of relationships she was willing to have, I found the violation of Fox's agency and consent to the type of relationship he wanted to have to be one of the worst offenses. The destruction of Fox's character felt like lazy development. He doesn't actually get a chance to grow and change and learn. Instead, he loses everything (justifiably, due to his stubbornness and controlling nature) and then is just forced to deny his needs, wants, and boundaries to hold onto the people he loves in his life.
- I also felt like the dynamic between Chase and JJ could have been treated with more care. While JJ acknowledges that he may need to interact with men due to the nature of his work, he is firm on not having any sexual interest in men from the very beginning of the story and there really isn't any indication of Chase's feelings at all. Kissing scars turn into helping hands, and then all of a sudden we are catapulted into oral and anal with no clear indication of there being a shift in their relationship.
More than anything, the minute-by-minute unfolding of the story across 5 books that ends in an epilogue spanning 3 weeks, then 2 months, then 2 years, then 5 months, and then 16 years has left me forgetting why the story was so compelling in the beginning.