pikamonster's reviews
148 reviews

Wicked Souls by Katie Wismer

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

3.0

It's not a bad story. It does feel rushed though. The whole thing with Connor in general felt rushed and weird. The smut was CRINGE. And I feel like it wasn't a good fit in this book. Maybe in the third book it would have felt more natural. The story isn't bad I just think the pacing needs improvement 
Leaves May Fall by Carissa Hardcastle

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
I think my big problem was this was marketed to seem like a more aro/ace story. But that was NOT the case. She just wasn't in to her male bestie. The story felt very hard to get in to. 
The Marionettes by Katie Wismer

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

3.0

It's not a bad book. It is however an incredibly rushed one. However it is compelling enough that I intend to read the sequel
Of Stars and Tides by Locklyn Blake

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
I REALLY wanted to like this book. On paper it checked all my boxes. However, it was marketed as an adult Percy Jackson but it read like a YA. The characters are all in their 20's but they felt like early teenagers. At this point if there was a spicy scene I would have gagged 🤢
The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent

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

4.0

While I didn't like it as much as book 1, it was great for a sequel. It dragged in a few parts but the author did a very good job of making you want to keep reading. Can't wait for the next book :)
Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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

2.0

The book was all spice. The plot was very rushed. The world building was slow and what you did learn was repetitive. Lis was SO BORING.  Everything about this story felt generic. Giving it a 2 star instead of a 1 star because it was useful to hide from another book I want to DNF. 
Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent

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

5.0

A very good little novella to provide more context and world building to the series. 
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is the best book I've read in a while. At no point could I accurately predict the author's next move. Oraya felt like such a realistic character despite being in a fantasy world. Words can't describe how perfect this book was for me. 
The Opulent Life Option: A Dystopian Novel by Craig Proffitt

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

3.0

The book was a little clunky. At times it felt like the author was overusing a Thesaurus, while at others it felt like Urban dictionary was his friend down to the spelling and grammatical errors. It wasn't a bad story however it felt like there was a lot of buildup to rush at the end. 
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don't know if it was just the ebook version but I wish it was more clear which viewpoint we were switching to. It made each chapter jarring but I won't hold it against the author. The story was captivating and felt like a true enemies to lovers. I'm not usually a fan of retellings but this one did a good job of bringing a fresh approach to an old favorite while keeping the general vibe of the story.