Not a whole lot happens here, but I still loved getting a little more from Jamie and Theo. No matter how short, it was still fun and sw|| 3.5 stars ||
Not a whole lot happens here, but I still loved getting a little more from Jamie and Theo. No matter how short, it was still fun and sweet.
There was plenty of banter, and I will never get enough of Jamie and Theo’s deep-rooted love. Their relationship is just so freaking good: Healthy, adoring, respectful, affectionate, playful. Literal perfection.
I decided to give this novella a quick read after one of my GR friends told me this was her favourite work by Anyta Sunday, and I am ve|| 3.5 stars ||
I decided to give this novella a quick read after one of my GR friends told me this was her favourite work by Anyta Sunday, and I am very glad I did! ;) It was short, but sweet.
Noticed Me Yet? had quite an interesting mystery plot going on, where the MC, Jacob, tries to determine who he has been exchanging anonymous notes with. This was fun and engaging, although I do have to admit that it was fairly obvious early on who this person (Mr. X) was going to be. I don't think that was particularly bothersome, though, because the fact that Jacob was still completely in the dark was what made it fun. I honestly don't think Jacob ever voices who he thinks his mystery guy will be or even who he wants it to be, which I thought was an interesting choice by the author.
I thought the overall vibe of this novella was light-hearted and cute, but I do have to admit that I was missing a bit of an emotional connection. I never quite felt a real bond with Jacob, which was a bit of a shame. I did think he was fun to read about, but he could have had more personality and depth. His relationship with Mr. X was also once again fun, but not particularly profound. They just had some light banter with the possible potential for more. I don't think this novella ever really shows us the more part, but that's okay. There's not always a need for that. I guess this novella could actually be best described as a very prolonged'meet-cute', and afterwards... who knows how it will go?
In the end, I definitely think this novella was hurt by the fact it was so short and thus, didn't have the time to properly develop certain things, but I do still think it was a very fun read and 100% worth it considering the minimal amount of time it will cost you to read this....more
Oh my freaking god, this might possibly be the absolute cutest thing I’ve ever read. It was completely unexpected, but I loved this book so much.
These characters were surprisingly lovable: they wormed their way into my heart, planted their arses there, and refused to move for the entire duration of the book. They were so sweet, so kind, so funny, so witty, and just so so cute and swoon-worthy!!
Theo and Jamie were obviously amazing characters and I loved them so much individually, but I loved the dynamic they had with each other even more. Their chemistry was pouring off of these pages and their banter was incredible. I adored how they started off as friends, and were genuinely there for each other. I could see the pure love they had for one another, even aside from any type of romance. They shared a deeper connection, an understanding and respect for each other, but above all, a continual need and want to always be in each other’s company. They saw and did the little things; the things that are needed to have a functioning and true relationship, instead of merely a deep attraction.
This book is written entirely from Theo’s perspective, and, although I would have killed to see inside of Jamie’s head, this did help with the whole slow-burn aspect. After all, Theo is the most oblivious person on the planet, and doesn’t see his relationship with Jamie as anything more than friendship for a very long time. Meanwhile, Jamie was half-way in love with Theo from the start, desperately waiting for Theo to notice and answer him with the same feelings. Jamie wasn’t pushy, though. Never that. I am an absolute sucker for (semi)unrequited feelings, and it was perfectly done here. My heart was fluttering and my heart was swooning. I loved the way Jamie loved Theo, and I adored the way Theo cared for Jamie. Their relationship was perfect, and their road to finally being together was amazing.
I also really liked the supporting characters in this novel, especially Theo’s sister, Leone. She had such a sweet relationship with Theo as well as Jamie.
If I have to give some pointers, I would say that sometimes this book had some difficulties really staying in the moment. Certain situations seemed like they could have been further developed and delved into deeper. I'm not sure if this problem had to do with the writing-style or the pacing, but... it unfortunately resulted in a slightly more superficial vibe during important moments, whereas I actually wanted to be fully emotionally into it. After all, that was exactly how I was feeling towards the characters: deep emotional investment! This was honestly my one and only complaint with this book, though. Had this part been done better, then I’m sure I would have rated this the full 5 stars.
Long story short, this was highly enjoyable and absolutely adorable. If any of Anyta Sunday's other books have similar character and relationship arcs, then I can honestly not wait to read more by her!!
I personally didn't think this novella was particularly necessary, as it doesn't exactly add anything new to the story or characters, b|| 3.0 stars ||
I personally didn't think this novella was particularly necessary, as it doesn't exactly add anything new to the story or characters, but it's not as if I'm going to complain about some more content with Ash and Darian. It was definitely enjoyable, but just not anything special, especially when compared to the original book.
I can imagine that this short story has more impact, though, if you want to revisit these characters. However, since I read this straight after Glitterland, it didn't have that particular purpose for me, and thus, I could have honestly done without it.
It's cute, though. I'm definitely not denying that....more
Wow. Just wow. This book truly was.. something different. Unique, even.
It somehow manages to be sad, hilarious and sweet all at the sa|| 5.0 stars ||
Wow. Just wow. This book truly was.. something different. Unique, even.
It somehow manages to be sad, hilarious and sweet all at the same time.
The story and characters gripped me from the very first second and did not let me go, not even for a second, during the entirety of reading this novel.
I absolutely loved it, and I feel like I'm failing the words to properly express my love. Ugh.
It deals with plenty of serious mental health issues, and by saying 'deals with', I truly mean deals with. Mental illness is not just some quirky little thing one of the characters has. No. It shows the trials and tribulations, the hard reality of having no control over your emotions, thoughts, actions or life. It doesn't sugat-coat it and is truly relatable in its realness. This, of course, makes it sound like this novel is very dark and depressing, but... It's not. Yes, okay, it's sad and even heart-breaking at times, but it's also incredibly hopeful and inspiring. I think you could best describe it as dark humour. And it works. It's not distasteful or anything: it's real, both in its sadness and in its humour.
The main character, Ash, truly is a hard person to love. He tries to push everyone away and comes across as incredibly ungrateful to the people who still try. Try with him and for him. Regardless, I did love him. This novel described his thoughts and anxieties well enough for me to understand him and feel for him. I mean, of course, his behaviour often sucks, but I understand. And I wished him all the best. Constantly.
Now for the love interest.. My god. Darian, babes, I love youu. What a sweet bundle of joy he was. Absolutely precious. He also cracked me up so god damn much. Holy hell. He might possibly be one of the most hilarious characters ever. And yea, he ain't the sharpest tool in the shed, but who cares? He's kind, funny, caring, and smart in the ways he needs to be. I don't think Ash could have asked for anyone better for him.
Characters don't need to be flawless, and these two were the perfect example of that. Maybe it's even easier to care for characters who aren't flawless. Perfect gets boring over time, especially in books.
Oh, and let’s not forget the grovelling that we get with this novel. Oh my. There is drama and angst galore, and I couldn't get enough of it. At the end, the angst reaches its maximum levels, though, and it's better than I could have ever wished for. Ash truly has to show his love and devotion to Darian, and it was amazing.
One thing that’s definitely noteworthy as well is that this book has an incredible writing style: the words flow well, they sound pretty and also manage to truly convey emotions. The dialogue is also absolutely great and contains the exact amount of wit and sarcasm I desire. It was never too much, but still always enough.
I just loved this novel. Plain and simple. It has many things I find interesting or enjoyable, and executes all of it perfectly.
I’m officially a fan. And I can’t wait to read more by this author....more
This story is genuinely sad. The helplessness of this story is just so depressing and actually kind of scary.
The plot surrounds a woma|| 3.5 stars ||
This story is genuinely sad. The helplessness of this story is just so depressing and actually kind of scary.
The plot surrounds a woman with depression, yet nobody seems to want to believe her and thus she is constantly treated in a way that is anything but beneficial for her mental health. She deteriorates further and further until she reaches a breaking point and lands in a full-blown state of psychosis.
I really like the metaphor/symbolism of the wallpaper. It is done extremely well and fits perfectly. I also think that the way this story is written just worked really well for the emotions it is supposed to convey. It is kind of infuriating though, because all of this is something that actually used to happen all the time, and can even still happen today. Women were said to just be 'hysterical', 'sensitive' or 'nervous', when in reality, they were suffering from mental health issues, and were completely powerless to get better. It's just depressing. It really is....more
Oh my god, this was so cute and fluffy and loving and touching and heart-warming and any other adjective describing something sweet and|| 5.0 stars ||
Oh my god, this was so cute and fluffy and loving and touching and heart-warming and any other adjective describing something sweet and incredible.
The relationship between Henry and Alex is damn near perfection. Their love is so pure and their emotional bond runs so deep. I completely live for their banter and their chemistry is honestly through the roof. I just love how both of them were so snarky towards each other at the beginning (mostly Alex), but that they both end up being so incredibly infatuated and in love with the other: they absolutely adore one another. I can honestly say that I think Alex and Henry are a true match made in heaven. They not only provide plenty of humour, but also an unlimited amount of heart. It is absolutely lovely.
Both of these characters are just so lovable, and you cannot help but care about them. Their unique quirks make them incredibly adorable and endearing. They are also both well-developed characters, who honestly feel real in some way. I legit felt their feelings. I did.
I also really love the secondary characters, such as Nora, June, Bea, Luna and basically all the members of the security staff. Everyone is just so wholesome and funny. I don’t know how this author did it, but she managed to give every single one of them a distinct voice, while also getting me to love all of them.
The plot is actually quite complex for your average contemporary and focuses on a bunch of things, such as politics, royalty, mental health, identity crises, acceptance, social justice, friendship, family, and, of course, love. There is also just the right amount of drama and angst without it feeling oppressive or like it is ruining the mood.
Everything was all pretty goddamn great. I was swooning and smiling like a lunatic throughout most of my read.
That’s not to say that I think this book is 'perfect' though, as I actually had some genuine difficulties getting into this book at the beginning and I also found a few bits to be sliiiiightly boring further along into the story. I would have definitely preferred to have a little less focus on some of the political elements in the book and instead, have even more scenes filled with the feelings and love between Henry and Alex, even though that was, of course, already a huge part of the story anyway.
Anyhow, I don’t want to dwell on the negative, since I genuinely think all the million things I did love in this lovely book completely overpower these small facts, and in the end, I quite frankly just do not care. I love this book. End of story....more
This was honestly not all that. The premise definitely had potential, but I was unfortunately not really feeling it.
I did not connect || 2.0 stars ||
This was honestly not all that. The premise definitely had potential, but I was unfortunately not really feeling it.
I did not connect with the characters, and I think it had a lot to do with their completely erratic and inconsistent behaviour. One time they act a certain way, and then another they act entirely different. I could not get a good grip on their personality. It was jarring and annoying.
The language also wasn’t exactly for me and there is a lot of narration rather than dialogue. The latter doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but it certainly made the story more likely to be boring. Which, in this case, it kind of was.
Everything was a bit abstract and although the main character, Griffin, had a lot of feelings, he hardly ever acted on them. He was insecure about every single thing, even though he is apparently the hottest and most amazing person ever.. He just doesn’t know that himself for some inexplicable reason. *sigh*...more
Urghh, I really enjoyed this so much more than you'd expect. I mean, looking at the facts, this book doesn't sound all that appealing. || 4.0 stars ||
Urghh, I really enjoyed this so much more than you'd expect. I mean, looking at the facts, this book doesn't sound all that appealing. After all, every single one of the characters is incredibly and deeply flawed, the romantic relationship is not all that extraordinary, the friendships are inherently quite toxic and every single parent is a complete heap of shit. Basically, everything and everyone kind of sucks. But somehow, they don't? I mean, they do, but they don't?
Okay, what I'm trying to say is that it's not about the actual facts, but more about the overall vibe I got from it. And that vibe was.. hilarity. Yes, I think that is the right word for it. This book was hilarious. The narration was hilarious, and even though the main character can be quite a bit of a wanker, that kind of makes it more hilarious? I actually laughed out loud, and by out loud, I mean I laughed loudly: It was a real ass laugh, not a chuckle. So yea, not sure where I'm going with this, but the humour here was amazing and it made the book far more enjoyable than it otherwise would have been.
Thus, I cannot recommend this book for its non-lovable characters or not so swoon-worthy romance (even though Luc's adoration for Oliver was kind of really freaking adorable, to be honest), but I can recommend it based on the conviction that you'll love it anyway. It's just a super fun read with actually complex and interesting characters that aren't exactly cookie-cutter. So if you want something different than usual, I suppose this could definitely be for you.
I do have to say that I enjoyed the first half of this novel far more than I did the second half. I still liked it a lot, but a bit of its charm was missing. Maybe it was getting repetitive or maybe it just wasn't as good, but it definitely was a bit of a downgrade. It made me conflicted on if I even wanted to rate it four stars, or maybe rather give it three instead. I settled on four, because I truly do think the book deserves it and I was probably holding it to higher standards than usual because of its first half.
'London Calling' duology: 1. Boyfriend Material - 4.0 stars 2. Husband Material - 2.5 stars...more
Okay, so, there are things I really liked about this book, but also things I really did not like. Thus leaving me with mostly mixed fee|| 3.0 stars ||
Okay, so, there are things I really liked about this book, but also things I really did not like. Thus leaving me with mostly mixed feelings about the book in general.
I enjoyed reading this book, I really did, but I was never enthralled by it or anything. I guess the emotional factor was always a bit on the down low, making it hard to really connect with the characters, rather than merely being interested in the plot. And that's exactly what it was for me: I was interested in what was happening and certain points that were being made, but I wasn't feeling it. The feelings were missing, and those are really important to me.
The main character, Rafe, is a bit of a difficult person to pin down. On the one hand he is very authentic: flawed although never having any bad intentions, but on the other hand he did grate on me, especially when he was ignorant or oblivious. How he doesn't understand what he did to Ben was seriously not cool is quite baffling. It is so obvious why Ben would feel betrayed, yet Rafe never really gets it... Besides my complicated feelings towards Rafe, though, there are plenty other characters who I did unapologetically like, such as Toby and Albie, but first and foremost: Ben. Ben was a breath of fresh air in this novel, as he was quite literally a golden retriever in human form. He gave me a bit of a break from all the weird looks I had to give my book while reading some of the extravagant or odd antics of some of the other characters. Not saying these couldn't be funny, but it wasn't exactly normal and in the case of Rafe’s parents it was honestly just flat-out annoying. Those two would honestly drive me absolutely bat-shit crazy in real life. Anyway, as I was saying, Ben was a break from all that. He was smart, funny, loyal and sweet: I could totally see why Rafe fell for him, and although I do think their relationship was adorable and could have potentially even been really good, I don't necessarily think they should 'get back together' (if they were ever even really together to begin with, which is surely debatable). Their basis is just too fucked up to ever really get over, I think.
The writing style in this novel was also something I was on the fence about. Although I liked the writing overall, I wasn't a big fan of the interludes with Rafe writing to his teacher. They were boring to me and did not add much to the overall story, in my opinion.
Anyhow, I definitely had fun with this book and I don't mind having read it at all. But.. that's about it. No big feelings here. Just an interesting discussion about labels and a moderately high level of enjoyment....more
The reason I did not particularly enjoy this is quite simple: The plotline did not interest me at all and I found all the constant tech|| 2.5 stars ||
The reason I did not particularly enjoy this is quite simple: The plotline did not interest me at all and I found all the constant technical jargon slightly confusing. However, the main character, Murderbot, is absolutely iconic. Murderbot’s voice is very awkward and unique, which gave it a humorous yet authentic vibe. I genuinely liked the character a lot, but it was unfortunately not enough to save this otherwise rather dull and underwhelming novella.
I think Genya's character and story are both quite interesting, yet this novella is too short and too simple to truly make use of that.|| 2.5 stars ||
I think Genya's character and story are both quite interesting, yet this novella is too short and too simple to truly make use of that. Although this story did give some well-needed insights, it definitely had the potential to be better. Unfortunately, it just ended up being slightly disappointing and perhaps even a bit boring.
I really enjoyed reading this more than I thought I would. I'd heard many people say this series isn't that good and that you just "hav|| 3.5 stars ||
I really enjoyed reading this more than I thought I would. I'd heard many people say this series isn't that good and that you just "have to push through it to get to Six of Crows", but I didn't feel like I had to push through anything. Nothing about this novel was boring to me and I did not really need much time to get into the story. The world-building in this universe is interesting and well thought out.
The characters are properly developed and have their own unique personalities: -I liked the main character Alina well enough, though I cannot say I genuinely care for her. She wasn't annoying though, which already seems like an accomplishment on its own for most MCs. She had some interesting and strong attributes for sure. I can definitely see her developing into quite a cool character. -The Darkling was alright at first, but I kind of despise him by the end of things. I don't see the appeal. He doesn't have many redeeming qualities in my opinion. He really wasn't even that great to begin with, let alone after everything went down. -As for Mal, he's not particularly interesting, special or even likable, but at least he's not a homicidal maniac, so that already puts him irrevocably above The Darkling as a romantic interest. -When it comes to Genya, I have to say I am slightly disappointed. She was probably my favourite character throughout this book, so I was rather sad about how things were left with her. I kind of felt like her whole kind-hearted yet strong attitude was ruined with her final decisions and revelations, but perhaps that's the whole point and makes her character all the more intriguing.
The writing style was extremely pleasant. It had the perfect balance between descriptive and fast-paced writing, engrossing you in the text and willing you to keep reading and reading. Maybe the author could have poured in a little more emotion though; maybe try to make you care more for the characters, but aside from that, I would say that the writing is pretty perfect for a high fantasy book.
There's something in this story I really have to give a little rant about though (contains spoilers): The whole Alina not killing the stag thing was so freaking stupid. I don't care if it didn't turn out to matter in the end, it was still absolutely insane considering Alina had no way of knowing that it would all work out eventually. Hell, even Mal could have just killed the stag rather than let The Darkling do it. Literally anything would have been better than both of them just randomly standing there, knowing this evil dude is going to kill the animal anyway to mark the beginning of the end of the world, and then just not do a damn thing about it. How dumb can you be?
➛First read: September 2021 | ★3.5 stars ➛Second read: February 2023 | ★3.5 stars
This is a very raw depiction of the pressure a girl fee|| 3.5 stars ||
➛First read: September 2021 | ★3.5 stars ➛Second read: February 2023 | ★3.5 stars
This is a very raw depiction of the pressure a girl feels to make a guy feel good and to not bruise his ego. It also shows how a girl might make up an idealistic image of a random guy inside her head, and how important it can be for her to feel desired and needed. This can be so important for her that she will put up with and try to rationalize away certain things that she really should not.
This story is about a young sophomore student, Margot, who had shown an interest in 34-year old Robert. She somehow felt like she owed him things, eventually even her body, just because she didn't want to offend him or be a tease. This didn't even seem like a choice for her; it was just a given that she would do this.
Of course there's more to it than that; their 'relationship' was already showing loads of red flags and there were other interesting psychologic aspects going on, but in the end it mostly comes down to this weird power dynamic between the two of them: this misguided sense of owing someone in Margot’s case, and being owed something in Robert's. Of course we don’t know what was going on inside Robert’s head, and a minor part of me did potentially feel bad for him too. Getting rejected hurts (especially after already having been intimate), but his previous gaslighting made it difficult for me to feel much sympathy for the guy.
That ending sentence though: ”Whore”. That one really hit deep. It showed that Robert went from desperate, pleading and gentle to hateful and spiteful, all because he knew the rejection would be permanent and he had no chance with Margot anymore. Feeling rejected is a very powerful emotion, and can sometimes lead to some scary behaviour…
I felt quite sad reading this, yet I think it's good that things like this are being written. It's very realistic, even though I wish it wasn't....more
Let me first say that I love Magnus and Alec together. They're my favorite couple in 'The Mortal Instruments' series without a doubt. H|| 2.5 stars ||
Let me first say that I love Magnus and Alec together. They're my favorite couple in 'The Mortal Instruments' series without a doubt. However, I am sad to say that nothing really happens in this particular novella.
Even though a lot of the story focuses on Magnus' feelings for Alec, it was more telling than showing. This is completely different from The Course of True Love and First Dates , as we actually got to see Magnus and Alec interact with each other in that novella, which was adorable.
Now, I don't mean to suggest that I didn't think Magnus' inner musings about his slight obsession with Alec weren't adorable too, but it was simply kind of boring because that's all they were: musings.
Basically, this novella could have used a bit more of a plot, and preferably one not concerning a random demon being summoned for a random lady, who I do not give a single fuck about.
To be honest, I am a bit disappointed that one of the few times this author actually focuses on this amazing couple, it is filled with such empty content. I had higher hopes for it.
➛First read: September 2021 | ★3.5 stars ➛Second read: February 2022 | ★3.5 stars
I knew going into this that I was going to love a novel|| 3.5 stars ||
➛First read: September 2021 | ★3.5 stars ➛Second read: February 2022 | ★3.5 stars
I knew going into this that I was going to love a novella about Alec and Magnus together considering they are undoubtedly adorable, but what I did not expect this novella to be was funny. However, that was exactly what it was: I laughed out loud plenty of times. I had multiple moments where I was just genuinely enjoying the humour and adorable vibe I got from this.
Magnus and Alec were always my favourite couple in 'The Mortal Instrument', so it kind of upset me we never really got much scenes with them. Now, at least, we got more than ever before and it makes me think about how much better more focus on their relationship would have made the other books. They're just so cute and I genuinely like both characters. They fit together so well too.
Obviously not a lot happens in this short novella apart from Magnus and Alex going on their first date, but still: it gives all the feelings it's supposed to give. Technically, it's of course a little bit like insta-love, yet it doesn't really feel like it. It feels deeper than that. I just love how Magnus is slowly getting infatuated by the innocent and sweet, yet silently strong, Alec. It’s CUTE!
Awwww, this was so freaking CUTE! It honestly made me feel all mushy inside. I was constantly smiling throughout this entire novel.
To b|| 4.5 stars ||
Awwww, this was so freaking CUTE! It honestly made me feel all mushy inside. I was constantly smiling throughout this entire novel.
To be fair, how could I possibly not love it? Adam is such a dreamboat and Olive is truly an incredibly likable main character. Their match-up felt very natural and well-suited. I love the whole grumpy/sunshine trope, and Adam definitely delivered on the ‘grump’ front. What I loved most about it though, was how sweet and caring he was towards Olive. You can genuinely tell how much he loved her. It made my heart flutter. Seriously, it fluttered. I can only imagine how much I would have swooned reading Adam's POV. Not that I minded only reading Olive's as she was super entertaining and lovely, but still... Just IMAGINE his POV. *sigh*
The side characters contributed nicely to the story as well and I really liked Malcolm and Holden. I also really loved the overall plotline. It was interesting and flowed well. The setting was quite original and fun.
Anyway, there were some things that could have been executed a bit better. Especially near the end, things started to slack a little bit. I would have loved to see some of the later situations and emotions explored more in detail, since they sometimes felt a bit empty or out of the blue. Some actions and miscommunications also seemed kind of stupid for no reason other than to further the plot or create drama. However, these issues didn't diminish the general love I felt for this novel and these characters, so I'm not going to dwell on it. This was just an absolute blast to read and I simply adored it....more
➛First read: September 2021 | ★3.5 stars ➛Second read: April 2022 | ★3.0 stars
Yea, so.... I did not expect to like this. At all. I thoug|| 3.0 stars ||
➛First read: September 2021 | ★3.5 stars ➛Second read: April 2022 | ★3.0 stars
Yea, so.... I did not expect to like this. At all. I thought it was going to be weird or uncomfortable or just down right offensive. Something along those lines. However, I was curious about it. So. I read it. And uh.. I liked it. I was shocked, but it really liked it.
I thought Sage and Xavier's 'relationship' was extremely intense (and hot). I found myself wishing this was a full-length novel rather than a short novella, because I wanted a lot more from them. It would have been really awesome to see more of the build-up and all that, but I also just wanted more of them being together in general. I bet that would have been great. Due to its short length, it was missing some much needed depth and emotional connection. Even so, it was a super enjoyable read; really had me entertained and hooked throughout the entire thing.
I honestly think the premise and characters had the potential to be really freaking good if it had been longer. It’s a bit of a waste, even if I still liked it as it was now.
It’s difficult to pin down my exact thoughts on this book. On the surface, this seems like a novel I would love: two people, who appear || 2.5 stars ||
It’s difficult to pin down my exact thoughts on this book. On the surface, this seems like a novel I would love: two people, who appear to be complete opposites of each other, form a connection where both would do anything to be with the other person. That premise seems right up my alley. And so, I was disappointed when I wasn’t particularly swept away by it.
Amanda and Michelle are both likable characters. They’re very different appearance wise as Amanda is femme while Michelle is butch. I liked how Amanda grew to admire Michelle despite her pre-conceived notions about butch lesbians, but I liked it even more how Michelle seemed to be enamoured by Amanda instantly: it was cute. They eventually got to a more even playing field with both being equally in love with the other, but I always appreciate a good ‘chase’ in the beginning and this was executed fairly well here.
After the starting point, everything fell a bit flat though. Nothing much happened: no tension, no conflict, no drama. Just.. nothing really. This got a bit boring over time and even Michelle and Amanda’s easy personalities and sweet relationship couldn’t erase the numbness of their story. I needed more; I needed to feel something. Which I didn’t.
I think perhaps this novel could have had a bit more depth if we would have read from Michelle’s perspective as well, rather than only from Amanda’s. But even then, the story itself would have probably still been too bland to really be good.
It’s a shame, honestly. With a great premise like this, the outcome seems like a wasted opportunity to me....more
➛First read: February 2014 | ★5.0 stars ➛Second read: July 2016 | ★5.0 stars ➛Third read: January 2024 | ★3.5 stars
Okay, I don’t really|| 3.5 stars ||
➛First read: February 2014 | ★5.0 stars ➛Second read: July 2016 | ★5.0 stars ➛Third read: January 2024 | ★3.5 stars
Okay, I don’t really feel like talking about the plot (I mean, it was fun with lots of action but still not a lot of depth; what more is there to say?), so I’m just going to go over the characters and say what I thought about them this time. Is this useful to anyone? No, probably not, but I feel like writing it down, so I might as well share:
-Am I in the minority when I say Zoë was the star of this book? Because if I am, that would be shameful! She was so brave and so fierce and so loyal. She was completely ready to sacrifice herself; her tragically heroic story really brought out some feelings in me. Not to mention, her character was just so genuinely and deeply interesting to me. She had a backstory filled with betrayal, grief and a need for revenge, but she also grew in this story and learned to trust and admire people she would have sneered at on instinct. Lastly, she cracked me up too. She acted so high-and-mighty and her uptight, old-fashioned attitude was oddly charming and funny to me. I just really liked her. A lot.
-Artemis was iconic and was showing some serious queen behaviour. She was just so righteous and noble and ready to fight for the world. She was the only god who truly seemed to care about the people around her and even about the innocents she does not personally know. I would love to know more about her and all the other girls in the Hunt.
-Percy, of course, was still a good guy. Childhood me remembers him as being more goofy and sarcastic though, but so far, he’s just… well, a good guy. Nothing super special. Which is odd, cus I could have sworn he was one of the most charming and funniest book characters I know… but I’m not really seeing that yet. I still really like him! I just don’t really love him with a deep passion or anything like that.
-Annabeth was hardly in this story, but somehow I found her surprisingly annoying; the fact that she considered joining the Hunters, meaning she would choose to never see Percy again, just irked me in all the wrong ways and the fact that she still kept on defending and mooning over Luke got on my nerves as well.
-I’m not a Thalia fan. At all. She is so rude and hostile for no reason to Percy (and to most people in general, to be honest) and the fact that she was so close to being tempted to basically ruin the world?? Um, that doesn’t sound like a very good person to me. Thank you, next.
-I liked Bianca. But well. Much good that did me…
-Grover was… there. He doesn’t have much of a personality these days besides loving nature, stalking the Hunters (in such a creepy way; what’s up with that?), and obsessing over Pan. I was pretty shocked at how little he seemed to care about Annabeth’s disappearance and possible death. I would have assumed he’d feel some type of emotion about that, but no. I guess not.
-I know Rachel was only in this for like 0.1 seconds, but I loved her?? I vaguely remember her being someone a lot of readers dislike, but I’m not sure why because she seemed really funny to me here. Very mouthy and sarcastic and just overall like a breath of fresh air. I can’t wait to see more of her.
![The Course of True Love [and First Dates] (The Bane Chronicles, #10)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394591809l/17334065._SY75_.jpg)
Loading...
