goody_reads's reviews
242 reviews

The Demon's Bargain by Katee Robert

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emotional hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

This is a cute little love story about a witch, a demon, and a narcissistic ex. 

The MC Lenora is sassy, strong, and funny.  Ramanu is a bargainer demon who is just as troublesome. 

We get to see movement between realms though the story is completely outside of the bargain. 

The usual typos found in these books. 
The Gargoyle's Captive by Katee Robert

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challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

3.5

A bittersweet tale of generational trauma, communication issues, and past hurt. 

In the auction from the previous books, grace ends up with bram, the gargoyle. Both suffer from family trauma, feelings of worthlessness, and heartache. The book has very little spice but more emotional development and bonding. Hope is a prevalent theme.  
The Kraken's Sacrifice by Katee Robert

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adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Book 2 in the series. 

This author really needs a better editor because this one has typos too. 

I LOVED the MC Catalina. She’s sassy and funny and I really saw myself in here. She makes a demon deal and ends up with a kraken. She’s afraid of water so that’s a problem. 

There are themes of love and loss, very little spice though.  
Sick Fux by Tillie Cole

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

4.0

This was a tough one. I liked the story of revenge and healing but I did not love Heathan James. I really wanted him to do more for Ellis but I felt that their relationship was creepy based on their trauma bonding and her health at that point.  But I liked the Alice in Wonderland theme and the overall story. 

TW: blood, gore, murder, child abuse 
The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

There were A LOT of typos in this book. I don’t know if it was translated from another language or just poorly edited but it definitely took away from the story. 

Briar (sigh… the romance novel name) is in a terrible situation so she makes a 7 year deal with a demon. She’s auctioned off to a dragon and that’s the story. 

It’s fine. The spice is low. The story is meh. Not much really happens with the most interesting characters (the demons). 
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

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adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Really liked this one. It’s a story of a drug addict in recovery who becomes a live in nanny for a wealthy family for the summer. 

The child is an artist and the pictures in the book show the change in content from happy and silly to perhaps a little more sinister. 

Ends with an epilogue that actually resolves the story and doesn’t suck. 

TW: blood, drug use
Gargoyles of Gaylord by Johnathan Rand

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

4.0

All the action can be right in your backyard! 

Two best friends embark on a journey to save Gaylord from a gargoyle invasion. They team up with an unlikely person and attempt to save the city. 

Really liked this one except the MCs name and some of her repetitive phrasing. 
Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli

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

5.0

LOVED THIS ONE. 

It reminded me of The Lovely Bones in that the POV is from that of the victim of a crime. 

There are multiple POV and time shifts. The characters are diverse in age, gender, and ethnicity. 

Fast paced and tense and really delves into how life isn’t always “happily ever after.” 

TW: murder, blood, sexual assault 
Aliens Attack Alpena by Johnathan Rand

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adventurous tense fast-paced

4.0

This was really cute. The MC and his friend have to deal with aliens and the school bully at the same time.  

This one is cool because much of the action takes place under water. 
Highest Bidder by Sara Cate

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emotional 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? Yes

3.0

I’m not into age gaps or “daddy” scenarios which this one was based on. And while I enjoy a good HAE Cate does this one similar to one of the others with the hastily added epilogues with the same nonsense that is a complete turn off every time (for me). 

Overall the FMC is a childish mess and this really feels like trauma bonding for me which I’m totally not about.