Perhaps an unpopular opinion but this didn't really work for me. Poor @Preoccupiedbybooks got inundated with my ranting & raging at so many interactioPerhaps an unpopular opinion but this didn't really work for me. Poor @Preoccupiedbybooks got inundated with my ranting & raging at so many interactions
Merged review:
Perhaps an unpopular opinion but this didn't really work for me. Poor @Preoccupiedbybooks got inundated with my ranting & raging at so many interactions...more
Diet Fifty Shades without the red room/BDSM & stalker vibes
If you like overprotective billionaires and MCs that are "in love" within a week with minimDiet Fifty Shades without the red room/BDSM & stalker vibes
If you like overprotective billionaires and MCs that are "in love" within a week with minimal communication this might work better for you than it did for me. ...more
The last 30% bumped this from 2* to 2.75* rounded up for GR. I don't know if it was that the pacing was off or what the authors opted to dedicate soooThe last 30% bumped this from 2* to 2.75* rounded up for GR. I don't know if it was that the pacing was off or what the authors opted to dedicate sooooooo many of the 900+ pages to but this did not really work for me ...more
I wanted to enjoy this book so badly, the premiss set up in the previous book & the letter writing was a different way in to the story, leaving the LoI wanted to enjoy this book so badly, the premiss set up in the previous book & the letter writing was a different way in to the story, leaving the London Scene was also refreshing. I liked Eloise's appearances in the earlier instalments and will admit to much of my curiosity for this series stemming from her appearances in the YouTube clips I've seen of the show - what a firecracker...but this was not it! She hardly seemed like the character we saw glimpses of in previous books and in any case...
Sir Phillip ruined this read! WTH is up with the tempers & tendency towards violence for the men of this world? Perhaps a product of the time & it is becoming increasingly apparent that these are the kind of men this author writes but they are such hard passes...I cannot with them! ...more
Positives I preferred this to book1, the things I liked about the first instalment namely world & side characters were added to in this one, sadly justPositives I preferred this to book1, the things I liked about the first instalment namely world & side characters were added to in this one, sadly just not nearly enough for this rating to be much higher ...more
2.5-2.75* being generous as I enjoyed the world but got so mad at the MCs and their blinkered blindness (yes I feel j*whelp* *battens-down-the-hatches*
2.5-2.75* being generous as I enjoyed the world but got so mad at the MCs and their blinkered blindness (yes I feel justified in doubling down on the inability to see clearly) and sadly even tho I enjoyed the side characters, they were not on page enough to save the read for me this time ...more
2020 update rating dropped to 3.25 after many thoughts / much rants
****
How to review the final instalment to such a highly anticipated series?! I do n2020 update rating dropped to 3.25 after many thoughts / much rants
****
How to review the final instalment to such a highly anticipated series?! I do not feel up to the task other than to say it was as wild a ride as you'd expect yet also liberally sprinkled with humour, heart and wickedness like the books that came before it. As a heads up this is a YA book and, like in the previous book, there is a sex scene which while it is in no way graphic it is worth noting for any younger YA readers. This story was perhaps not as dark and twisty as the last - however seeing as this is the final book that is understandable.
The character growth from book one is staggering and seeing the lessons learned by all the players, or not as the case may be, was a fun conclusion to this trilogy. Some of the characters decisions surprised me based off their previous book appearances and my opinions of others changed despite possibly thinking they got off a little lightly. The relationship developments from the earlier books through this one were great. You know me and my love for strong family relationships and let me tell you these kids are messed up but work so hard for one another surprising themselves and everyone else in the process. I forget the wonderful quote about being forged, I'll find it on reread.
I do not know what else to say without spoiling anything that came before, save book snake really comes into it's own and rightly earned it's spot on the cover ...more
2.75* Rounded up to 3 as my biggest issue with this story is a me problem not a book/writing problem.
My overriding emotion while reading this was frus2.75* Rounded up to 3 as my biggest issue with this story is a me problem not a book/writing problem.
My overriding emotion while reading this was frustration. *sigh* Not at Khai, he was a precious cinnamon roll & I want all the best for him and his life dreams, but My/Esme and his mother drove me around the bend.
I knew going into this book from other reviews that I would have an issue with a choice made early on by Esme. I hate miscommunication and while it was to be somewhat expected and I could accept it on Khai's part due to his inexperience with romantic relationships and dealing with people in these new to him scenarios...Esme could've done better. Perhaps there were language issues, she has self-esteem/self-worth problems that she has to work through but man did she frustrate me. I wanted to like her, as she does seem really sweet...but I just could not get behind her choice to not disclose such important information up front.
Yes it was steamy in places, yes it was sweet in places but overall just not for me this time which is a pity as I did love KQ and cannot wait for book 3 & what I hope will be Quan’s story. ...more
A fitting end to this trilogy. Definitely the most action packed of the series, a lot more happens in this book than the relationship building of the A fitting end to this trilogy. Definitely the most action packed of the series, a lot more happens in this book than the relationship building of the earlier books...but fear not if you're looking for the sexy times - those too abound in this final instalment.
Final tally on my favourite words of the series /sarcasm Mate 106 Mated 9 Soulmate 27
Not too bad considering the second books tally over over 160 mentions of the word "mate" alone. The issues of niggling errors which could have been caught with another read through persist in this 3rd book. But if you've read and ignored them in the first 2.5 books they're obviously not spoiling the series for you.
I was again slightly disappointed in the lack of side character development/participation in the action. Temperence was far and above the most interesting character to me as she appears to have boundless powers yet she was woefully underutilised in every capacity. And I shit you not, literally brought along to the big end scene and told to wait outside! I mean why even build her up to be this all powerful being that can heal and all sorts of bad ass things if every time she might prove useful she isn't called upon to do anything! I would almost have rather read about her and Malaki's shenanigans when they were permanently left behind - although it doesn't sound like there was much character development there either unless endless shagging counts.
It may seem from my reviews of this series that I didn't like the books, but I did enjoy the over arcing storyline and this book was my favourite of the 3 + novella. It had the most action & thankfully answered a lot of the questions set up in the earlier books. The MCs relationship also read much better (to me) in this final book without the controlling/submissive aspects from their bargains. The Aelirium scene was very entertaining and despite the original book bearing striking resemblances to ACOMAF - the rest of the series kicked on from there with much more originality as we learnt more about the siren and she embraced her abilities. ...more
All the books in the series so far could have benifitted from another set of eyes before publication. There are slight grammatical aAnother 2.5* (ish)
All the books in the series so far could have benifitted from another set of eyes before publication. There are slight grammatical anomalies which could have been snapped up with one more read through.
This novella follows Des' life up to and including his side of interactions with Callie as a teen and 2 quick chapters at the end which overlap with their current timeline. Oddly despite all romantic encounters (to my memory) being instigated by him in the first 2 books we do not get his pov on any of these...in fact despite mentions in the abstract of other lovers in the centuries before he and Callies paths cross there are no sexy times in these 214 pages.
Word to the wise kindle users, despite Goodreads claims the kindle version is 214 pages not the 186 mentioned. Yet within these 214 pages the following words appear repeatedly. Mate 69 Mated 4 Soulmate 13 Soulmated 2
Thankfully considerably less than I feared based off book 2, but there was a marked increase in their appearances after a prophetess (is that a word?) reveals some of the future to Des partway through the novella - not a spoiler if you've read the first two books which it is assumed you have if you are reading the novella.
My hope of learning more about the side characters didn't quite pan out as I'd hoped. They do make cameo roles, Malaki moreso than Phaedron. Although both are still very much on the periphery as we spend a lot of time with Des' thoughts. I am also left with a desire for Larissa's life story before she was forced into the harem, she is a fascinating character....more
Despite the word "mate" appearing more than 160 times I can't say this book didn't keep me turning the pages if only just to challenge myself2.5-2.75*
Despite the word "mate" appearing more than 160 times I can't say this book didn't keep me turning the pages if only just to challenge myself to keep track to the end.
This book rates slightly higher than book 1 for me as the story took on more originality compared to the first one even though at times it reminded me of 50 shades...mostly how the Bargainer exerted his will over hers although I do think this MC has a smidge more backbone than Ana Steele and she stands up to him a tiny bit more even if his magic ends up taking that semblance of control away from her more often than not. And the throw away line in the middle of the book somewhere about Callie having very similar hair to his mother. *eye-roll*
I enjoyed the whistlestop tour around the Night Kingdom and our sojourn in the Flora Kingdom where we finally get some fae world building. It was fun seeing the different rulers and how their magic worked differently from one another. Hopefully the novella (seems unlikely) and final book take us to discover the other Kingdoms.
Lots of sexy times in this book which I guess is what makes it new adult so I should have expected it. What irked me (aside from the control issue which I ranted about to no end in my status updates while reading - spoilers therein - fair warning don't read them if you don't want to know) was how the mystery of the disappearing people kept being pushed on the back burner for sexy times, parties and whatnot despite the fact the disappearances were also happening at these events!
The reveals towards the end were fun, I had guessed some but was way off base on others. I was also disappointed by the lack of page time for Temperance, Malaki, Aetherial & Phaedron who are the characters I wanted to know more about...but I guess I shall have to read book 3 to see if I can get more answers on them. I'm curious to see what happens with the other rulers and hope they can all band together as a sassy bad ass army to challenge the big bad - I'm also curious as to his motives as we really haven't been given any so far. And i really hope there is some sort of comeuppance (but not separation drama because that would be unecessary) for Des' actions at the end of this besides potential vulnerability - she better make him pay in some way and not just rollover. They need to have so many conversations about him actually listening to her and not just hearing/getting the answers he wants!...more
The earlier parts of this reminded me quite a bit of ACOMAF but rather than a dark brooding male fae there was a white/blond silver eyed male MC and s The earlier parts of this reminded me quite a bit of ACOMAF but rather than a dark brooding male fae there was a white/blond silver eyed male MC and swearing.
I didn't particularly enjoy the love story in this as it was wrapped up on both sides with magical abilities to exert control over others. In which case I guess they are well suited except ones magic doesn't actually affect the other in the same way so there is a power imbalance which coupled with the flashback scenes establishing their meeting/bonding when the MC was 16 left me uncomfortable.
Her inability to see what was going on despite supposedly being a PI & permanently doing silly things like leaving secure areas when it has been established people are after her made me roll my eyes so often...yes it happens more than once *sigh*
Most of this story was building/re-establishing the relationship between the MCs set up through flashbacks at the start of each chapter for backstory/context. There are hints at an underlying mystery which will trickle over into next books - which yes I bought as a bundle and will read on because I paid for them and despite what my review probably sounds like I do want to find out what happens. Mostly I'm hoping the side characters play bigger roles especially Temper & Aetherial, I'm also curious to see whether Eli makes a reappearance or contributes in some way.
The last few chapters branched away from ACOMAF feels and set up an interesting premiss going into the next books - hopefully now that the reltionships are established we can solve the mysteries....more
Aoife - Bookish_Babbling
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