Grace

Un libro muy bonito para empatizar y mejorar las reacciones como papás. Además les explica a los niños que mamá y papá no siempre saben lo que hacen y tambien tienen malos momentos, platica por ejemplo lo que pasa cuando mamá se desespera muy pronto, o la ve de malas, sin justificar la acción, y también plantea cómo el niño percibe a la mamá.

Una frase que me quedó muy grabada es cuando mamá se molesta y el niño "ve con temor cómo se convierte en algo como un monstruo", y es cierto que cuando estamos con poca paciencia si observamos veremos cómo su mirada cambia y seguro mil cosas pasan por su cabeza... ¿qué impresión quiero dejar a mis hijos? Me ha dado mucho qué pensar en cuanto a mi autorregulación porque ellos aprenden con el ejemplo.

I couldn't stop reading, and when I felt the pace accelerating and realized I was nearly finished I didn't want the story to end.

The book starts about two months after the end if the second one, when Kohen reveals Aisling that he killed her father the Emperor and kills her afterwards. She is enraged by this and hunts him with all her might, bombing Imbria and killing innocent people as a result.

But then Kohen's insistent pleas as well as his brothers' caring of Valor while in the search of her bond in the Wilds make her second guess and actually search for any evidence that her father did indeed try to kill her in several occasions, making Kohen right about her father all along and changing both nations' fate.

She's also preparing to go to war against Maxim so things do not look well when one of her sisters is kidnapped by him and being demanded to marry Maxim as well as to give up Amersea immediately.

It had enough mix of tension, love and hope that keeps the reader engaged throughout the story, I mean... I read 75% of the book in one sitting!

Yes, it felt a little forced a few times and part of the ending felt rushed, especially because there were new backstories thrown in halfway and were concluded just as quickly as they came, but overall I think the author managed it pretty well to make it work and the result in my opinion made justice to the three nations. I just wish it had been longer so we'd have more time to digest those bits and pieces that the author wanted to share ... and also to enjoy the characters, I'm not ready to say goodbye!

Me gustó mucho, la historia, el mundo, la magia... no es lo más original pero yo lo disfruté.

Pienso que un mapa ayudaría para entender mejor la geografía del mundo, y el final me dejó un tanto insatisfecha ya que no cerró siquiera en un "cliff hanger", me quedó la sensación de que estaba incompleto más que otra cosa.

Por esos detalles es que lo evalúo en 4/5, pero en general no me pareció ni aburrido, ni plano, ni infantil como en otros comentarios mencionan.

Leí este libro en español, y la escritura me pareció adecuada pero puede ser que por eso mismo mi experiencia haya sido diferente a la del grueso de otros reviews, además leí mientras escuchaba la playlist en Spotify y de verdad que me encantó, nunca había hecho eso (suelo leer en pleno silencio o con el sonido de la tv con lo que estén viendo mis niños) pero me cambió la experiencia.

I enjoyed this book a lot! even more than crowns of Nyaxia, I'd put this book leveled with Six Scorched Roses also by Carissa Broadbent, which is one of my favorite books ever read. Definitely a good read, with a nice world-building, character development and an intriguing politics system. The magic system still is a bit confusing to me, maybe because it wasn't shown, just kind of explained in the beginning, but ok... I hope with the reading of the next two books I'll get to understand it better.

This book does have some triggers to keep in mind:

• Slavery
• Physical violence
• Child abduction
• Murder described graphically
• Mention of sexual assault/trafficking
• Blood
• War

Carissa writes very beautifully and, to my taste, with respect and justice about these topics that are not easy to put in any book nor any context, but it is also important to mention so you enjoy your reading instead of being stressed or triggered.

This is book 2 in a series, but I had no idea until way in the book. I like that you can read this book as a standalone as well.

The story follows Wyatt, a thriller author that is highly self-confident and is sense of humor is tremendous; and Aubree, the town's grump who had a difficult childhood that shaped her insecurities and low self-worth. It all starts with Wyatt needing to marry right away - after he is left practically at the altar - due to a legal requirement in his grandfather's will to inherit his cabain. It specifically stated that it would go to the first of his grandchild that got married and Wyatt is willing to take marriage as a business transaction to keep the cabain from his cousin Wallace. So he comes up with a plan with the help of his friend Lauren, and the best option is Aubree, a girl who shares the ownership of a farm that was owned by Aubree's late sister Cassidy and her husband (and Wyatt's brother) Clarke who also passed a few years ago.

The banter between both characters is great, it's got the Grumpy-sunshine trope but reversed (she is the grumpy and he is the sunshine), it is a "rivals to lovers" with forced proximity situation where they need to work together to get what they each want with all their heart, but will end up getting what they both needed the most in an unexpected turn of events.

The plot is hilarious and very enjoyable, and I especially LOVED Ethel. I can picture her pretty clearly as the annoying-former-Broadway-performer-turned-into-town's-inn-owner-and-main-source-of-gossip pretty well. And all her scenes are killingly funny.

If you read the first book, you'll have recurring cast bc it is the love story between Hattie (Aubree's younger sister) and Hayes, and they play a big part in the plot for this book as well. If you're like me and didn't read that book that's fine as well because this book gives context where is needed about events in the previous book so it reads as a standalone if you're only interested in Aubree and Wyatt's storyline.

So my rating is 3.75 stars mainly due to the following points:

- I would have liked more conflict between Wyatt and Wallace, it was sold as a big issue all the way through but once it was presented it didn't feel as huge as it could have been, same with Cadance

- I see where Aubree and Wyatt's insecurities come from, but everyone knows what happens when two people do not talk to each other, and having feelings for each other but not opening to each other when it is evident for everyone and also they are to marry became a bit eye-rolling for me but that is just personal opinion because I really become annoyed when people do not communicate... the writing was great, though

-There's a point in which there are sex scenes, but like one after another after another, and I do enjoy good spice but these were very repetitive and the pacing became odd. Suddenly I felt like it became THE focal point when the focal point should have been how Aubree was starting to gain confidence and feel seen, worthy of love, and experience new things in her life that she never thought existed. So I kind of got lost between all that overly explicit spice scenes that to me didn't add much to the story

All in all, I had a lot of huge laughs, some deep moments and I felt related in many ways to multiple characters. To me it was very enjoyable and has become one of my cozy reads now.

I am so heartbroken right now...

I liked how it felt like real life, with its nuances... it shows how people come in and out of our lives as we grow and there's even a quote stating that you don't need to have a fight with your childhood best friend to stop being best friends, sometimes you just grow apart. In this case that turning point in Finn and Autumn's frienship is talked about through both POVs so I really appreciated that, since the book is all narrated through Autumn's POV it is natural to take her side of the story as the fact of what happened and when Finny exposed his side of things it felt all the most relatable because that's real life: we remember things one way and others may do so way different, that's when misunderstandings happen.

It became apparent pretty early on that depression and toxic relationships was going to be the theme of the book, and man ... Jamie is a walking red flag, I just wanted Finn to step in for Autumn bc I thought she wasn't going to do it herself, I'm glad they didn't end up together.

I think depression was handled well, and then again, the person usually doesn't know they are depressed or deny it altogether as Autumn did throughout the book, even her thoughts and actions after Finny's passing make it evident for the reader that she is indeed depressed, and for her it isn't something to be concerned about, it's just a natural course to follow... to me that's what makes depression very scary for the family more than to the person who suffers it.

The ending just had me sobbing, at first I thought it was very hurried but thinking better about it I think it is not about giving a happy ending, the heartache is more intense just because we feel they didn't get to live their love as they were meant to, but there's a little piece of Finn left in this world as a sign of hope for Autumn and The Mothers, a reason to live and love again.

Solid 5 star for me, I don't know if I'll ever get over this book. 💔

Rating: 3.75 stars

The book is written with interlapping stories in the past and the MCs present, both written in chronological order but there's one chapter in the past followed by one chapter in the present and so on. The story follows Macy, a pediatric resident in the Bay Area with a past that is too painful to face, leaving some chapters still open that affect her present. She then sees Elliot, her best friend from her teenage years and the guy who broke her heart. Everything starts to change as old wounds are open, Macy starts to question her currently relationship, and advancing in parallel with her past you get to understand what happened that got her where she is.

Things I liked:

-Love is beautifully developed in the book, from the first interaction all the way through, some things may seem cringy but when one is a teenager you get to have that kind of conversation and find it natural because you are exploring your body. As an adult I didn't enjoy it as much but I understand how it plays in the story.

-I enjoyed pretty much the second half of the book, when Macy starts to take accountability in her current relationship and owns her part in her ghosting to Elliot

-I liked the healthy talks that were held: Macy's dad for one, how he managed being a widowed father and Macy's issues (I dropped my jaw when he managed THE talk every parent fears when their child reaches an age to appropriately address sexuality and safe sex). Also Macy and Sean's mature talk about their dynamics and how it would work when married, it was a nice chapter.

Things I didn't enjoy as much:

-Macy is the main character so both past and present are told exclusively from her point of view, in the end it works but it would have been so interesting to have at least some chapters from Elliot's POV as well, and the rest of the friends would be interesting as well, they are talked about throughout the book but some thoughts would be interesting to hear as they come and not filtered by Macy's POV.

-The first half made me think about DNF it, Macy felt very immature for her age, and like it was so annoying every time she expressed her confussion after seeing Elliot for a couple of seconds, and afterwards she felt like a teenager going to a Justin Bieber concert, and she was 28...... so I really disliked the start. Fortunately after the chapter where she talks with Sean about her final realization that they are not even compatible I think she suddenly matured.

-Linked to the last point, Elliot also seemed so cringy. Like why leave your girlfriend of (not sure if they lasted 1 or 5 years) just bc her saw Macy... huge red flag more than romance there. At least Macy's reason felt more reasonable because at first I thought she was being a dick but then it made sense with Sean being so not in sync with her so... it made sense for the breakup, but Elliot??? Nah...

-I would've liked a faster pacing in the first half, it took me almost 170 pages to stop considering DNF it

All in all I'm glad I didn't quit it, to me it got better past that half mark, and it all was worth it in the end. I got nice parenting advise, had a couple of good laughs, and cried so hard in the last 20 pages or so... which in the end made up for the bullets I didn't enjoy as much.

3.75 stars

This book is everything, it talks about life, youth, a relationship between a son and his mother, a husband and a wife that don't meet eye to eye in many things, friends, mom friends, and also how deeply rooted beliefs shape an entire community, how paradigms can be broken, and how every decision affects other people.

I think the book brought so many important topics, specially sexism and politics, and it touches a few fragile fibers in me... like I cried so hard around 45% in, because I too have a son and can connect with Misaki and Mamoru's relationship so it hurts deep inside me I still am not recovered.

The author also writes an exquisite world and even though she uses uncommon words so casually into the writting it didn't disrupt my understanding, actually it made it more inmersive and interesting. I saw the glossary and man it is huge, so at first I found it a bit overwhelming but decided to give it a go without fully understanding the concepts and it turned out amazing!

I also liked having both Mamoru and Misaki's POV, and some of Takeru as well, but specially Mamoru so you know what happens when he's with Kwang, and when he's in the front line, and Misaki is a badass mom. I liked the way she was written with careful details, you can truly understand how she feels when being a trained warrior and then becoming first a housewife and then a mother... how she constantly faces insults from her father in law, indifference from her husband even when she needs him the most, the hurt after she miscarried, natural feelings when you give birth (people tell you that it is love at first sight , but it isn't always the case and for women who don't feel that way they think there's something wrong with them when it's not), her motherly instinct to protect her children... she is the GOAT!

I think the book is amazing, I really enjoyed it to the point I feel devastated. My only note is the last chapter, I think after 50% it was natural to write the aftermath and I appreciate there was great character development after the climax, it was so worth it to keep reading up until the last chapter which to me didn't fit anywhere nor provided anything useful to the story. To me it was more about catching up and giving a bit of info dump on Misaki's classmates but I really didn't care that much about them to have about 30+ pages on them. It would have worked better to leave it out and the ending would have made sense. I just think about it as the "gossip chapter" which is sad for a book like this with so much depth in other matters.

Maybe an epilogue with the youngest Matsuda would have been amazing, I'd connect it with the next book (I know the author froze the Theonite series but it could be a nice closing, having it as self conclusive but leaving a small window in case she wanted to continue in the future)

I hope you find my review useful and remember to be mindful of people because we all have different abilities and ways of thinking.

This story has me so emotional right now... I knew I was going to end up heartbroken but not like this... it touched so many fibers in me that I just can't...

It is beautifully written, and the freedom and wilderness of Faina made this all the more enjoyable and hurtful at the same time. And as a mother I do feel very close to Mabel so this hits hard...

The story has a lot of nuances, and I did have a great time reading it, I just didn't want it to end!

I don't know how I'll recover from this, I just want to think of this as a life-changing journey. It leaves some questions in the end, though, worth discussing in a book club, but as an individual it leaves me thinking and I haven't decided whether I want that or not.

My only observation is regarding the editing, I don't know if it is only in the Kindle version or it's also in the printed edition, but it was a bit hard to understand when the dialogues happened because they were written within the narrative.

Just... wow!

This books clears a lot of things about Mische that were big question marks for me in the past books, that were just crumbs leading to to this amazing book, I just can't have enough!

My biggest ccomplaints in the books 1 and 1.5 were towards world-building and this book just delivered it perfectly! I could feel like I was there, and picture all the scenes thanks to the great description so thanks Carissa!

Also this book is more in the traditional quest style, in contrast with the past 3 books were there was a goal that branched out into others. Not saying one is better than the other but I get why some people got bored with this one, I personally enjoyed it way more because of it. The quest was clear, the journey was full of obstacles that mixed both the MCs fears and regrets, and each stage closer to the goal became harder and deeper (in contrast with the past books that kept a steady pace throughout the story).

The character development is beautifully depicted, both the FMC and MMC learned and grew from their starting points, and Mische's trauma that didn't make much sense on how it was incorporated in book 2 was greatly explained that now it makes total sense if I were to re-read Ashes and the Star-Cursed King.

Some parts of the book were a bit slow, but you cannot have a continuous crescendo, you need nuances in the pacing and cadence. I just loved it!!!

It started out nice, sweet even, of course without the backstory one thinks they've known each other for so long and had mutual crushes but didn't want to admit it.... but then...

Who can even think a fling with the guy you saw as a newborn and have met your whole life, pretty much as your younger brother, would be right, or hot romance? Like BIG red flags everywhere in the book:

1. That is not hot at all
2. The guy doesn't take a NO for an answer
3. The guy acts like a patient, but he is definitely not
4. He is more on the creepy side of things
5. The FMC is a wreck, and I thought "well, at least she sees this is by no means hot", but then she admits she's got the hots for him too, so..... no thanks

Sorry but not Christmas-y at all

Very heartwarming, light read. Perfect to start your holiday reading 📚

This story follows Sadie, the new girl in a rather dull town that hasn't celebrated Christmas in 10 years. She feels off place by being new and having her parents busy and overwhelmed with the chores that need to happen with a recent change of residence.

After finding lost letters from 25 years ago under a floorboard with hopes and dreams of a little girl that used to live in the house Sadie is living now, she decides to remind everyone of the Christmas spirit and find the author of those letters.

This book is amazing!!! I deeply enjoyed it, the tension, the anger, the joy, the romance, even the nice family moments... ALL OF IT!

I have so many favorite moments of this book but I don't want to spoil anything. The story follows mainly Allie Rousseau, a world-class ballet dancer, and both sides of her: her past in Cape Cod and her present as part of the Royal family of dancers (her mother and her 3 sisters are well known in the ballet industry).

Yes, her mother is shitty, and the dynamics in her family are messy, but I think it is pretty real (families can be that dramatic i real life, too).

There's also the POV of her love interest / childhood best friend Hudson, who is a sea rescuer and THE book boyfriend we all want: he is hot, dreamy eyes, tall, very understanding, caring, great uncle, he puts Allie's needs over his every time, not pushy even when he clearly wants Allie with him (he even mentions standing purposely next to a wall where she wouldn't feel trapped and have access to the exit shall she wanted to leave), and apparently he also f*cks like a Greek god.

The whole cast around them is very enjoyable too, each with their own personalities that make the story so relatable (we all know someone as straightforward as Kenna, or as protective and anxious as Caroline, as motherly as Mrs. Ellis or as silly as Gavin).

My only two notes to say, but this is just my own opinion about the story itself, no critique in any way to the perfect writing Yarros delivered:

1. I think the whole side of finding Juniper's dad is hard to follow, like everyone was so stressed about the effects and it shows when Allie is explaining what happened, but it adds to the feeling of overwhelm as a reader, I just wanted to get it clear bc it was so confusing.
2. I didn't like Allie, to me she was very over the place, she wanted something then she changed her mind, and then she didn't know what else... she was too much and then too little. I understand the trauma she went through and the uncertainty of the events around the accident, the way her mother treated them and the pressure she was under... but she WAS very entitled, she felt with the right to judge everyone and to know everything, and if she didn't know the moment she wanted then that person was shut down of her life just like that... she took way too long to get to a conclusion she told Hudson at the end of the book that everyone was screaming at her (metaphorically) from the very beginning and that she even mentioned a few times throughout the book as well... I loved when Kenna told her to cut the BS and stay out of her own way (like fr, she was her own demise in her misery)

I know people that do that and it is very frustrating, but Hudson's love is real if he stayed notwithstanding.

So this is my review, it is a romance so there's no spoiler in saying it does have a happy ending, and also it doesn't need a complex plot nor a huge backstory, but it is still very emotional and connects with the reader in any level they are, so I loved it.

The 5th book in the series, which leaves me so much to think about in terms of how to review this. I felt it a bit disconnected from the main trilogy because it switches FMC altogether, even if they are related and happens chronologically after the events in ACOWAR and ACOFAS, they change entirely the main characters, shifting focus to Nesta and Cassian. This by itself would have been better as a standalone with ACOFAS included, or even as bonus material, or dividing both making one longer and the other shorter from what they ended up being, to make a Nesta Duology. That to me makes more sense, but it was marketed and published as part of the ACOTAR series instead... if I were to rate it solely as the ending of the series (so far) to me it would've been a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ due to the disconnection and change of focus. But I believe there are series with better books than others so I choose to rate as standalone and taking some context of the past books. So here I go:

My complaint in past books, especially the so popular ACOMAF, is that they are unnecessarily long, full of info dump and very unrealistic scenes with the excuse of adding smut, prioritizing it over a good story or character development (which Feyre lacked, she still feels very plain, the same Feyre that went hunting in ACOTAR tbh), but I think in this book SJM got a great editor because I feel the history, context and explanations are well blended into the dialogues and inner monologues, without becoming something boring or overwhelming.

In terms of depth and story, I actually liked it, very much, because we know a very mean and nasty Nesta and get to see her growth and development throughout the 750 pages. SJM I think mirrored what she wanted to show in Feyre's training with Cass and Az in ACOMAF but in ACOSF she delivered it well for Nesta. It shows a self-awareness evolution, development of friendships through a common goal to overcome their pain, and their journey to change the rules in a male-dominant world. Nesta realizes what she does is wrong and she always has, but the thing in this book is that she allows herself to open up and change that, to allow herself to love and feel loved, to feel worthy of that love regardless of what happened in the past, and to forgive and be forgiven.

That to me is a very important message, no matter who you are, you can relate to some of that healing journey, which wasn't something I caught on the past books.

I still don't like Nesta, her story as to why she was mean and hated Feyre so bad when she should have been grateful doesn't add up, nor why is she so excessively OVERprotective of Elain (Feyre too, like I was confused as to which sister was the youngest right from the start of ACOTAR bc Elain seemed to be an 8yo in need of that protection), and it is just so unrealistic to me, Nesta making decisions on her own, or having attitudes like "wanting to stand up so Cassian doesn't humiliate himself in front of other males when having her training, but her body wouldn't respond" (complete BS tbh), how Feyre's problem resolves so quickly or how Briallyn is suddenly not a threat anymore... and those are also the elements I decided it wasn't a 5star for me, it doesn't feel as organic even though there are some emotional scenes that had me in big fat tears it doesn't outweight some nonsenses.

The fact that Cassian and Nesta are mates also ruined it for me, it was a bit forced and even when it explains why Cassian is overly understanding with Nesta's bs (similar as Lucien's pleading to Elain) it takes away Cassian's free will, like he tells Nesta about her BS but keeps coming back to her when it is a clearly toxic environment. At some parts he wants to let go of her but at others it's like he's obliged to stay so maybe the mate part was an afterthought, but I would have liked it to be natural, maybe the mating bond forming throughout the time and not as immediate as they said as a retcon (i.e. she was so cold not even a mating bond could go through her but after her development that ice started melting, allowing a bond to create)

To wrap up: it isn't a bad book, I would have enjoyed it more as a standalone, and with some depth in the resolutions of the threats, but I still enjoyed it more for the message it gives and the development it shows. Easily my favorite in the series tied with ACOWAR or ACOSAF (depending on the mood)

This book is a classic. Having said that, it is important to keep in mind the following:

-Ideas put in the book are hardly compatible with today's views (religiously, familiar, even in gender matters)

-Pacing and events considered important back then may be boring or irrelevant today

-Writing style is different from modern writing

All of the above may be obvious to some but I wanted to put them as a reminder for all who read this review.

Now, even considering the points above, and having read Jules Verne, who is contemporary of Bram (yeah, different genres but still gives an idea of what was considered interesting back in late 1800s), to me this book was ok, boring at times and very entertaining at others.

I wish it wasn't as repetitive, and the foreshadowing was quite obvious (like I was screaming "Lucy is turned!", "Mina is targeted!", "He hypnotized them!") By the time the characters deducted what was happening my reaction was like "you don't saaaaay! What gave it away, like the last 50 pages or so?" Especially since they were supposed to be documenting and sharing everything around half the book forward, so they were supposed to be on the same page at all times...

I think the scene that just kept my eyes rolling was when Jonathan saw Mina paler by the day, weaker... and his deduction was that her state was due to her affliction for not being included in the men's conversation instead of what was obvious -she was attacked by Dracula... like come on... really dude?

The pacing was very slow as well, and not to mention the dialogues with some locals or seamen with weird accents that just made the whole thing completely hard to understand, let alone to follow.

So overall I rate it with 🌟🌟🌟 because it is not as bad, I still wanted to know what was going to happen and how they were going to end it all, even if at times I lost interest and will to go on. I'm glad I got through it, though, I think it was worth it, just maybe not a re-read for me.

I loved the story, the characters, the setting... Lilith is such a badass even if she doesn't know it.

Points I LOVED:

1. This is the first FMC I've read that is not in her late teens (she's 30) making it very relatable.
2. She struggles to connect with people, which is something very real and common
3. Although she cares a lot, she just cannot express in a warm way that... her love language is caring and finding the cure for both her sister and Adcova
4. She is a woman of science, which is something not commonly represented so I appreciated that so much
5. And as a woman of science she doesn't rely on magic, nor is waiting for a knight in shining armor to come and solve her problems, she takes action even if it endangers her because she knows no one is coming to save the day
6. She represents very well how moms behave: taking great care of others before taking care of herself. I'm not saying that's OK, just that it is well-depicted
7. She saves the MMC
8. She saves the day

Points that kept ot from being 5 stars:

1. Same as with Serpent & the Wings of Night, the world-building falls a bit short, maybe a map and an introduction to the mythology, some context on what is going on so we can place it on the timeline within the series before getting too ahead in the story, this would help a lot

If you enjoy a strong, "common" and in her thirties FMC this is the book for you.

I wanted to enjoy this one, especially because the first book was really good. Unfortunately it was lacking so much that was already built or set up in TSATWON:

1. First of all: I understand Oraya was in a difficult situation emotionally, like she saved her lover and lost her father, became an heir and a prisoner all the same day... so yes, it was too much to process (both father and lover lied to her...), but for how she was raised and how she'd fight against vampires to save humans I expected her to give a fight nonetheless... and instead she chose to play the prisoner role.
2. I agree Raihn also had a performance to maintain to keep Oraya alive, and I appreciated how he gave some tells so we can know it was part of the performance... but it really bothered me how easy he trusted everyone having lived with other vampires for 200 years... what was that experience worth for if he was being that naive? "Alliance" as an excuse is BS, so no plot there. And the worst: How many times did he need to say or think "There she is"?
3. Mische... I LOVED her in the first book, her bright personality is everything, but here she is completely off. I can't imagine facing your abuser. That must be traumatic. But there is something that just doesn't make sense to me in how she was written, I don't know if that's just me...
4. Lilith and Vale, I was eager to read more of them after Six Scorched Roses, but Lilith was just the excuse for setting the "big plot" (the wedding), and Vale was.... I couldn't even picture him as the "third best general, now turned the first best", it wasn't enough of him to see that...
5. Simon and Septimus weren't as challenging as we were led to believe, I was a bit disappointed, there was a really good idea but the execution was a bit lazy 😞

Overall I felt the book was way too long for the story, it had too many dialogues and they weren't even adding to anything... also I saw too much repetition, like "The she is", "Fear is a recollection of physical whatevers " and describing over and over the details of the Wings or the Heir marks.... also apparently Oraya's cheeks were the first thing the enemies were thinking on slashing because she got them every time she battled with someone... it was a bit discouraging for me to keep reading because it was tiring.

The part I enjoyed though is Vincent's past,trying to have is POV and understanding why he didn't kill Oraya when he found her... I swore he had made Oraya the god blood item evwryone was looking for, so it would have been SO meaningful and THAT would have been a very interesting plot to follow.

So yes, I liked the first book, LOVED the Six Scorched Roses (definitely getting that one in paperback) but this one felt lazy, unedited in many ways and too long.

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

I loved the story, the characters, the plot, the romance... pff I couldn't put it down!

I enjoyed this book way more than I expected, especially having a strong FMC. I loved the romance, not cheesy, it also had its evolution. And Oraya's development in terms of becoming as powerful was very inspiring, to not give up even when odds are against you or that the world taught you it is impossible.

I took half star out just because I needed more world-building, a map to understand where every kingdom was, the places, distances, politics, the reason the trial took place (it is stated as something that happens every century to honor Nyaxia, as a ritual, and you learn some of Nyaxia's trial-from which the Kejari is based on- along the way but there's just something vague about it).

I would only advice to beware of some trigger points:

• Blood (like a lot of it)
• Forced s*x
• M*rder
• Enslavement

Other than that to me it is an amazing read and totally recommend 👌🏻

I am a hopeless romantic so naturally I loved the fated theme in this book, yes as unrealistic, kinda forced and even over the top as it is, that's why I read romance books in the first place.

Now, this was not necessarily my favorite, like then again, why does anyone keep waiting on someone for so long, despite your dreams and they making it clear that they are not changing their ways for you?

Also (and this is more personal) I don't read military stories bc 1: I don't live in US so in my country US military interventions mean totally other things than what US feels so honored by, and that's OK... and 2: due to that we do have different views of the war and who is the hero in the story... but I gave this book a chance to see where it went and to me it was an unnecessary setting, especially since it is too close to reality, or even it IS someone's reality and not a nice setting for a romance.

Now, my opinion of it AS A ROMANCE STORY: I think it evolved into something beautiful like admitting they didn't have any right to make that choice for the other, but man it was so hard to live the non-relationship through both lenses. That is, I think, beautifully written and achieved that dual POV, still I kept screaming at both like "get your shit together, you love each other!"

As much as I enjoyed this book there were a lot of annoying things that were too over the top, and what outstands the most is the fact that all these 3 years Izzy was mad at Nate, like really pissed off because of an abandonment and that's what you are led to believe happened as their last interaction for most part of the book...... until they get to childishly discuss (for the eleventh time) and you get Nate's POV conveniently about 80% in, totally opposite to the whole story... so it was either planned that way or something in the story telling broke but to me it just didn't work, that and Izzys constant stubborness to stay, like of course she wouldn't be allowed to do as she pleases in a war zone, she would have been dispatched back notwithstanding who she was....

Overall I think it is enjoyable and I stand by Yarros in her romantic writing... if an author doesn't make your feelings arise and get mad at these characters then they are not doing it right and she definitely is doing it great!

This book starts right were it left on book 1, and amazingly the author provides a recap with the main points to keep in mind so you don't have to re-read before book 2. The story is well-paced and the world-building improved. It comes with a map so you can situate each country.

I really enjoyed this book, the dynamics and Aisling's transformation into an empress is well described, you do feel part of that journey in which she grows into a powerful woman that questions the way things have always been done and actually wants to challenge and transform them so everyone gets peace.

There are a few annoying matters, though, she becomes very repetitive in terms of revenge, betrayal, and stubborness... in the end I just couldn't with her, she became enraged and wouldn't listen, she automatically assumed the worst (just as Kohen predicted), and in at least two occasions she gets so impulsive that makes me question the growth she had acquired throughout both books. I hope in book 3 her character is written more consistently because she is totally awesome, she is the leader everyone would like to have as a ruler.

I loved this beautiful book! I also needed something cozy, and that didn't require a lot of thought on my part, and this was perfect! I finished it basically the same day I started.

Now I hear some people didn't get the chemistry between Ollie and Ethan and guys, let me explain the process: she spends 24/7 with the person she thought as Satan's child (because of a misunderstanding that I get through later on), but then she even states how she realizes he is not the daredevil she thought he was, and starts to find he's actually a nice dude playing tough after he was told to not try any moves on her (shitty but how many times have we ourselves listened to the wrong voice?) And I think his vulnerability the night of the mai tais was it for her, to see him under a different light altogether.

Also, the book is hilarious, I had so much fun reading it. I agree it may not be everybody's cup of tea, but to me it was just right. It reflects Latin families correctly (metiches, we love chisme, and also oversharing, comforting, and proud) and the dynamic between Ami and Ollie after the news is great, Ami got into a denial phase bc her life was falling apart and chose not to believe it at first. It is real!

The firing may or may not be as accurate, I worked at a beer company and if you were involved in any kind of incident/or car crash due to inebriation you were fired because you were not practicing responsible drinking... so a choice you made in your personal life does affect your professional life as well, it reflects your work ethic for sure so I can understand the situation with Mr. Hamilton, I would have liked a stronger argument, though.

Only thing I would say that didn't make sense to me was why Ollie took so personally and so deep how Ethan supposedly saw her with disgust that first day they met and then she decided to make him an enemy.... I get she tends to see everything pessimisticly, but that detail for me was over the top, like we don't know each other, I don't care tf you think of me... especially if I love my body as Ollie states a number of times. The rest I think, is cute and something I would watch in a romcom movie.

So try and don't take a romcom that seriously peeps, it is not meant for that, it is entertainment and this book was very entertaining to me, at least.

Amazing story! This is about Aisling Everheart, daughter of the Ambersea emperor and enemy if the now submitted Imbrian ex prince Kohen Badshah. Yes, there are lots of tropes like “he cheated on her because he was having a difficult time”, “my father killed his father”, “virgin until marriage but desires him”, “we don't know the whole story”, “supposed enemies to lovers”, “forced proximity”, “the chosen one”, “found family”, “My bonded creature has a special relationship with his bonded creature”

She sees Kohen as her enemy all the time, he's nothing but nice to her. She feels he's going to turn his back on her at any time out of revenge for his father's death so she doesn't trust him and questions that attitude of protectiveness towards her through the book.

As the story moves forward Aisling has to overcome many challenges, first Tetra (her best friend who happens to have a condition in one of her legs that disables her to walk without a cane and meds) is chosen to go to The Wilds and bond with a creature (Hunger Games style), then the proximity with Kohen that makes her question the stories her father has told her about Imbria, the trials they are put through during camp and trying to survive for real after someone actually wants to unalive her.

Of course she bonds with the coolest creature available and gets powers that has to keep secret for her own safety and shares that with her MMC who also gets the coolest creature and gets forbidden powers too.

It is light reading, but still exciting and I can't wait for part 2 in December!!!

This was the best book of the trilogy! In my opinion Vow of the Shadow King was extra, the story would have worked better as a duology. Yes, some happenings in the second book lead to this one but with a good editing between first and second books (let's be honest, not everything in the first book was necessary as well) a duology would have been just fine.

I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book after VOTSK but I am so glad I did, it made so much sense and it moved me so much.

Favorite scenes (NO SPOILERS):
-Cheep, I love it!
-The Vulug Ugdth ceremony
-The war with the Licornyn riders
-Maylin's backstory is beautiful
-All the scenes with Arraog, specially her backstory

Some points I didn't love, but aren't deal breakers for me:
-As some reviews also pointed out, the repeated scenes but from the other's POV was too much, although the last scene made sense, but most really didn't
-Faraine's silence when she actually could and should have said something... it's like “girl, speak your mind, say what happened...” but she chose not to and I thought it would be an interesting plot later on, but it wasn't

SPOILER POINT





- To me, the magic compelling Vor to go through with the alliance made with Larongar didn't make sense... he may not have known about Ilsevel BUT the higher forces compelling him to fulfill his side of the bargain must have... therefore they should not have forced him at all knowing he didn't marry Ilsevel... there couldn't be two Ilsevels at the same time right?





End of SPOILER POINT

So all in all I loved it, even more than Moonfire Bride and Sunfire King together (and that is a lot to say), to me it had more depth and purpose, the turning points, revelations, the retcon that will be continued in War Bride... puff I am invested

What do you think? Do you agree? Did I miss something?

I loved the story... I just finished it and am in tears. There's so much to say about the story:

First, I must say it starts somehow slow, like I didn't understand why so much backstory for both Rory and Soline... but then halfway I realized Davis builds a backstory that actually adds to the present of the characters, and it unravels in the last quarter of the book, like every single detail of those backstories come to importance when Anson is found alive and then when Rory discovers that Hux is alive too. I really enjoyed that, even the glass of wine Soline and Anson had on their first date is brought as a detail when Anson tells Soline he doesn't drink anymore and she answers that he wasn't much of a drinker back then either.

The build up for the story is very well written, I felt every single flinch, rage, fear, joy, heartache, accomplishment and pride... I grew to dislike Owen with all my heart and still cannot forgive him even if what he did was because he wanted what he thought was best for Anson.

And Camilla wasn't my favorite either, but then I got to understand why Camilla is the way she is and saw how she redeemed herself to Rory once she filled that emptiness she had by finding out Soline was her biological mother... such a masterpiece...

Character development felt so natural, realistic and also relatable, how Rory starts to feel confident of her work and standing for what she wants in life even if she's broken, how Soline overcomes her wish for solitude by opening to Rory and ending up attending her gallery's opening night, Camilla's joy to have a loving mother and therefore becoming one herself, Anson's brokenness after the war plus being deceived into an unhappy life by his father...

I also must be honest, I saw the grand revelation of Camilla being Soline's daughter coming from a mile away, but for the first time in having that not-surprised-for-this-revelation thing and the “late period” trope I actually wasn't disappointed nor did it ruin the book for me, on the contrary: I was expectant to see how it would be revealed and the waiting was very enjoyable.

The only thing I would say felt incomplete and maybe rushed was the ending, like, Hux is alive and what happens next...? You move forward some months and the wedding is happening? How did they find him? Why was he kidnapped (or no reason at all? That is also valid)? At least what was his reaction when he saw a new Rory fulfilling her dreams? There were obvious struggles when he got back home whichprobablyy would have made the ending more complex and also losing focus of what the author wanted to say, it was not his story the central point... although one of the main conflicts (the gallery) was influenced by him... I think it is a story for another time, yet a story worth telling.

Sorry for the long review, it is so much but at the same time it is so good I want to thank the author for this story, it has become one of my favorite books and reminds me so much of “The Things We Leave Unfinished” by Rebecca Yarros.

I needed something light to read, that didn't require too much thought and that would be entertaining... to me this book accomplished that. I have to say I don't think it to be a very complicated story but I still really enjoyed this book very much.

It is light, not that short, and depicts the kind of romance that is built overtime... not a romance that happens just because, nor it is forced upon, although it does start with the MCs kidnap after tricking her into stepping out of her house's threshold, but it is developed in a way that it doesn't fall as a Stockholm syndrome trope, she genuinely keeps her trust limited and questions everything even when he is kind to her and doesn't give her any reason beyond her kidnapping to distrust him, which makes it -to me- more realistic.

I didn't expect it to be as enjoyable, so I am reading The Sunfire King, I need to know why everything happened in the first place and if Valera can make amends of her choices.