lexisreadingagain's reviews
294 reviews

Will I ever stop being surprised by how much I love the masked man trope?

Well, not anytime soon at least because wowowow Daddy Drazen 🥵🫠😍 Idk what Jagger Cole is doing but these books are literally so addictive. If you’ve read any of the Venomous Gods series, you probably remember Taylor Crown, friend and business partner of the Black brothers. We’ve seen snippets of this badass, career woman but now it’s her time to snag a hot, possessive, and broody crime lord 👏🏼 These two are so depraved and hot. Drazen’s tastes are dark—like pitch black. Good thing that darkness gets her all hot and bothered lol 🤭

The amnesia trope is one I sometimes find a little silly, but Jagger did this really well. And I was NOT expecting the twists at the end. I always know the last 15% of a Jagger Cole book is gonna be wild, but this was so so so good!

Thank you to Valentine PR and Jagger Cole for providing an eARC of this book to give my honest opinion.

Immaculate. I knew I was gonna love it but I didn’t expect to love it that much.

My heart is so full and happy for Verity and the Princes but WOWWW was it a ride to get there omfg. What an incredible book 😩 these three men had me crying, groaning, blushing, screaming and everything in between. Watching them grow over the course of this trilogy into the men they are in this book? A testament to the power of love and trust and support. A testament to family. Because that’s what they’ve become. Lex, Wick, Pace, Verity and their baby are a family who rely on one another and care so deeply for each other. It’s pure and simple and god I’m gonna cry AGAIN thinking about how hot fatherhood looked on them !!!

Every single one of them melted my heart, but I have to say Wick surprised me the most by absolutely stealing my heart 🫶🏼 his growth was perfect, both realistic to the character and exactly what we needed to bring things full circle.

And Verity. To create is to reign. And she not only created a life—a living, breathing human being—but a family, a home. She entered the Purple Palace as a voiceless woman at the mercy of three hurt and angry men, and not only did she tear it down brick by brick, dismantling the “legacy” that she inherited from Rufus Ashby. But she rebuilt. She brought fire and light to their life and forced them to reevaluate their priorities. A true Queen.

Long may she reign 👑💞

But also what is going down in Forsyth right now?! there are still so many questions unanswered and characters I need more info about. The Barons, the Baroness, Ballsy, Stella, the Monarchs in general? Samgel always plants just enough seeds of doubt and possibility in my mind that I’m itching for more of this world and characters. And as things are changing, borders blurring, families blending and friendships emerging … I just know this story is only going to get better as we step into this new House of Night with the Baron’s. All of the info we learn about BRN leaves us with just enough insight to expect a new kind of darkness and depravity 🥵

Oh & you thought I would read a Forsyth book and not also obsess over my man Nicky? You obviously don’t know me! I’m literally so deeply in love with this man. Every crumb we get of him is a blessing 😩🫶🏼 him and Lav are still the cutest. DKS UNTIL I D*E BABY!!!

Everything about this is a Yes from me y’all.

Ahhhh I need 2025 immediately, but in the meantime a reread of the entire series so far will do 🫡 lol

Thank you to Angel Lawson and Sam Rue for providing an eARC to give my honest review.

This was a disappointing read to be frank. The writing style was extremely juvenile, despite the characters being in their late-20s and early to mid-30s (Lettle is 28 & Yeeran is her older sister). Lettle in particular read like a teenager to me for most of the book. The timeline was confusing and choppy, and I know this whole course of events takes place over only a few months, it still feels rushed. I also don’t feel like there was enough lore or world building prior to them arriving at the Fae city to even really fully grasp their magic system. The three goddesses, the obeah, the magic being channeled through animal parts into their objects to wield magic (drum skin, arrow fletchings) ??? The more I found out the more I realized I was confused. Lettle is constantly spouting off random nonsense about her prophecy, which in truth also feels like the author is shoving it in the readers face as if we couldn’t pick up on subtext and clues. It’s just messy. 

The attraction & chemistry between Ryan and Lettle felt awkward and forced. I didn’t care for it. Again, Yeeran is weirdly fixated on her lover and returning to her. But then suddenly has a new attraction 75% into the book, completely out of character with the loyalty she’s established to this point, which is one of the few character traits with any remote depth we get to see. The sister relationship between Yeeran and Lettle was honestly a bit annoying & I just didn’t feel connected to either. We didn’t see them learn to communicate or trust each other. And for two women who constantly bring up how they relate to the poor and starving masses of their country, they don’t seem to have any significant character development. I know this is just the first book, but they feel so flat and there’s no desire for me to continue this story.

Overall, very predictable story. Every time I thought the story would do something unique, I was let down by stilted emotional connections and repetitive conversations. Too many unlikable characters and a nonsensical magic system. The saving grace to this story was Rayan, the soldier who gave up everything to follow Lettle and Yeeran on this journey. He was so adorable and tbh deserved better friends than them lmao.

This book is my new happy place. My new comfort read. My sunshine on a cloudy day. My heart sings along. You. You. You.

I just have no words. I love Harriet. I love Wyn. I love Cleo and Sabrina and Kimmy and Parth and the friendship they’ve built and nurtured into a full fledged family. I’m crying just thinking about them.

Wow I can’t wait to reread this already.

This was SO different than what I’m used to for regency/historical romance and I absolutely loved it!! This would have been a solid 4 stars if George hadn’t of been a twit & kept secrets toward the end. The ship scene saved things for me thankfully 😊

But overall so much fun & now I need to find out what happens with Andrew.