soozn's reviews
442 reviews

Never Stay Gone by Tal Bauer

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Evocation by S.T. Gibson

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

3.75

Secret Service by Tal Bauer

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emotional mysterious sad tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin

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dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

🥱 

I struggled my way to 72% and could not keep going. I didn’t care about the plot, or the characters, or the so-called romance. 😒  

The premise had a lot of potential but just did not do anything for me. The MC/hero was such a pathetic wet rag of a human. I understand that he was traumatized and had been in an abusive relationship but his pals were trotting him out like he was the corpse in Weekend at Bernie’s. His arc was just not interesting to read at all. Big Eeyore energy. 

And I thought his love interest was dull too. Their relationship started out as fuckbuddies but never changed to anything deeper in the 72% of the book that I read. I saw nothing blossom between them or progress. I really wanted to root for them but, like, NOTHING HAPPENED between them. 

Also, the author was promoting this book on their social media as possibly a love triangle involving Dmitri’s ex - the villain usurper who emotionally & physically abused Dmitri. (There’s actual domestic violence in the flashbacks.) I had a hard time stomaching that. It’s misleading and just downright gross. 

Oh and while I’m ranting, I might as well throw in how much I hated Samotin’s transliteration of the Russian language. 

Tadek and the Princess by Alexandra Rowland

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Himbo by Emmy Sanders

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

Merry and Bright by Riley Nash

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emotional funny lighthearted
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0