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Reviews tagging 'Murder'

How does it feel? by Jeneane O'Riley

26 reviews

christyreads_n_rambles's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Callie is a small town Biologist who is determined to find Actias luna (or luna moths), when she discovers a mushroom is the answer to all her questions she sets out to find this rare alluding mushroom in the forest. Callie indeeds finds the mushroom, but also finds herself falling into a strange new world and on-top of the moral grey and disturbed Unseelie Prince. 
Callie must fight to survive or she will never return home.

WOW
I must say I was SCARED to read this book after the hype around it on booktok, but I am so glad I picked it up, this is my first 5 star read of 2024! It is slow to start but honestly what Fantasy book isn't, you have to build the story. 

What I liked
-Duel POVs
-Developing characters
-Easy to follow fantasy 
-Morally Grey MMC
-Strong willed FMC
-Plot twist 
-Adventure and Action Packed 
-Spicy
-Enemies to Lovers??



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ashley_reya's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Overall I enjoyed this story! I found that it was a little slow to drop into the main plot as we were introduced to Callie. Mendax started as pretty 2D and most of his chapters were just hornier renditions of Callie’s previous ones. However, in the later half of the book his chapters moved the plot along just as much as Callie’s and gave important context of Fae World we were experiencing.

What an ending!! Excited for book #2 to be out soon. 🧚🏻‍♀️✨

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ohshebookish's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book. THIS BOOK. Omg yall, this book was a wild ride. The pace is slow in the beginning, but don't let that fool you! There is so much more to this book, so pay attention. 

Callie was a strong, albeit two dimensional, fmc to go through everything that she went through in the Unseelie realm, and still be determined to fight. Even though I really don't know much about science, I appreciate all that we learned through Callie and her job, and how she used that knowledge to her advantage. I do feel like the struggles and friendships that she had in the human realm were superficial, until Earl, but that is explained later so I don't really feel like it counts. There definitel  was a missed opportunity to bring more depth to Callie and her background. If we would've gotten some povs of the people that she left behind in the human realm when she got trapped in the Unseelie Fae realm, that would've added an interesting layer to the story.

Now, Mendax. Oh, Mendax. I don't even know how to feel about him. He's gorgeous, unrelenting, murderous, and tortured by his attraction to Callie. Their back and forth was so good, but I wish there was more tension and a slow burn instead of insta-lust. I do like how possessive he got over Callie and was willing to do anything to keep her safe, despite being the one trying to get rid of her. The dual pov was great to be able to see Mendax's internal struggle.

So, I'll be honest, the writing style does leave much to be desired, however I feel like it might've been done purposefully. It reads as a mundane book at first, which I believe sets you up because, then BAM, the ending knocks you off your feet! I was shocked. I was running around my living room. The scream I scrumpt. The ending literally flips the whole book upside down and makes you question everything. Let's all get our clown makeup out because Ms. Jeneane was playing right in our faces and we didn't even see it coming! Those last two chapters ROCKED me. I am waiting on pins and needles for the next book because I NEED to know what happens next. I should've listened to the dedication because I am definitely finished.

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rwsmith's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

this absolutely read like an ao3 story, posted in chapters but then scooped up together and published with a few intro chapters to set up the world. the writing isn't the best and it would have benefitted from an editor review in terms of typos and grammar. it also should not have been written in first person - the twist at the end was interesting but it was too out of pocket for the whole book to have been in first person and the reader not having seen any foreshadowing. 
all that said, the plot and story itself are interesting. the cliffhanger does make me want to read the sequel when it comes out, but unless the writing is a bit better and the characters a bit more dynamic, ill probably pass. i read it in a day so definitely and easy and quick read if thats what you're looking for. 

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pairswellwithbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I didn’t realize how much I loved this book until I got to the end. HOLY. I NEED BOOK 2 NOW. Definitely getting the e-book in Feb, no way am I waiting for the physical copy in April 

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biancabee_'s review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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agw622's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Like I don't hate it, but I also didn't love it, but I also want to read the next book!?!

I found it fine enough till the end. The main twist I didn't agree with, but maybe on a reread I will see it better. 

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paykay's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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courtneyhowell18's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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catspajamas15's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

I'm honestly mad at myself for finishing this. Like it was not good?? But I read the whole thing??
Everything happened so slow but so fast at the same time, I'm still kind of confused of the progression of everything.
First off, our main character, Callie, is just the worst. She's a disney princess and has a way with animals, all the men adore her and want to date her, she doesn't use curse words (unless it's for something dirty, but that's just quickly sidestepped), she's blonde and blue eyed and she's skinny, but she has CURVES but she's petite, but she has AMAZING cleavage. Like UGH. 
Our MMC is just a brute who we're supposed to like, but he's just arrogant and downright abusive so it's hard to garner any sympathy for him. If this was supposed to be an enemies to lovers, it failed miserably because one second they're *literally* trying to kill each other and the next they're making out. It made me cross eyed. 
The twist ending that I heard about on social media was just disappointing and didn't come together well since this was a 1st person POV. Callie doesn't give enough of her own background and backstory for me to understand what happened at the end. 
The author seems really confident in their work, and honestly - good for you, but A) she gave music recommendations for 3rd last chapter of the book (random?) and the dedication at the front of the book says, "My hope is not that you finish this book, but that this book finishes you." The confidence is just impressive. 
I will not be returning for book two.
 

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