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Dark Soul Vol. 3 (Dark Soul, #3)
Dark Soul Vol. 3 (Dark Soul, #3)
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
2.5 stars.

Dark Lady I: 3 star
Dark Lady II: 4 star
Dark Brother: 1 star

Dark Lady I, I was equally annoyed that I had to read about Silvio having sex with someone else and fascinated about the way he went about it all.

Dark Lady II, I really enjoyed because, hopeless romantic that I am, it was about Silvio and Stefano and them getting closer.

Dark Brother, well, I know Silvio's a little strange in his sex life, but really?

Your own brother? What the hell?! I didn't even read it, just skipped to the next morning

I must admit that though this was my least favourite volume so far that I am still intrigued and wanting some sort of happy ending for these two so I will continue reading to see how it all plays out.
  
Killer Frost (Mythos Academy, #6)
Killer Frost (Mythos Academy, #6)
Jennifer Estep | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's the last one, sadly--I'll admit it's grown on me a lot over the past two books, the pace picking up and everything coming together--and in my opinion, the best one.

The final showdown between Gwen and friends and Loki and the reapers has been a long time brewing and let me tell you that battle was edge of your seat stuff. I mean, I know they wouldn't lose because that would have been a crappy ending, but how the author wrote it. The tension of not knowing how Gwen was going to come out on top pushed it from the usual 4 star up to a 4.5/5 stars.

Seeing how all the characters we've come to know over the previous five books come together to fight the Reapers, well, I really liked this ending.
  
The Amphitheater of Souls
The Amphitheater of Souls
Patrick Bryce Wright | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A step out my comfort zone but a very good one!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Cian is sent on a journey to find out who or what is causing all the deaths in his village.

I really enjoyed this! It's a step out my comfort zone, and a very good one at that.

I'd class it as high fantasy. Very Tolkien-esque, with an epic journey, lives at stake, elves, dwarves, centsaurs, sea serpents on the rampage and a madman, messing with dark blood magic.

Throw in a slow burn sweet romance, between Cian and his guide, Thanyon, and you've got a near perfect book!

Only Cian gets a say, though, and at points, he had a lot to say.

But a fabulous read.

4 good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
The Waking Land (The Waking Land, #1)
The Waking Land (The Waking Land, #1)
Callie Bates | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
**3.75 stars rounded up**
I really wish we had half stars to use at least. This one was difficult for me to nail down for a rating. I don't think it's really a solid 4 stars but not 3 either so somewhere in between.

That said, I did enjoy the book. I thought the plot was unique and the world building was decent. The characters were my main issue. There is a bit of a lack of depth in some of the supporting characters that I feel could have used a little more development. However, my main problem was with Elanna. She seemed a bit... well, flaky at times. She clearly had Stockholm's in the beginning but she changed her beliefs every time someone told her something. She went from hating her father to loving him as soon as she saw him to almost indifference when he died as well as from hiding and fearing her magic to loving it with no real in between. There was also A LOT of repetition, especially in her inner monologues. She didn't want to fight in a war for her dad, she wanted to run away, then it was steward of the land and born for this over and over. This book does have its redeeming qualities tho. Despite my irritation with the characters at times, the action kept me invested in the story. I needed to know what was going to happen, will their small band of revolutionaries win or lose and at what cost? I also liked the mythology woven into the story, especially about the ancestors.

Overall, I think it's a promising start for a first novel and am looking forward to the sequel and to seeing what Ms. Bates comes up with next.

**Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!**
  
40x40

Debbiereadsbook (1303 KP) rated Bendy in Books

Oct 29, 2023  
Bendy
Bendy
Erin M. Leaf | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
far too short!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.


So! Jumping straight in, much like the book.


I liked this, a lot, but my overall feeling about this is : too flipping short!! 40 odd pages, 20 minutes, less than the time it takes to drink a cuppa tea, and the whole book takes place in one day.


Ben splits from his girlfriend and his best friend, Josh, gets him to explain why. This leads to a conversation about feelings and then they are having the smexy times!


And that, my dear peeps, is it. Apart from the trip to visit Ben's ex girlfriend and what happens there. Which was kinda hilarious, and very much something I saw coming!


Because it's such a short book, there is very little build up, or character background and I missed that.


I liked that once Ben and Josh realise their feelings for each other, they jump straight in. I liked that they both get a say, even if it flips between them mid chapter. There is a break, but still.


I would also have liked an epilogue, sometime later. Just to catch up with them and how things were going.


First I've read of this author, I'd like to read a longer book, with more to get my teeth into.


Still, I did like it, I did enjoy it, and it passed a short time while the other half watched his bikes going round!


So, I'm flipping between 3 and 4 stars, and because you can't do half stars on some sites, I'm gonna err on the lower side. I just wish it were longer, you know??


3 very good stars


*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Matching with Monsters (The Red Agency #1)
Matching with Monsters (The Red Agency #1)
Crystal Lynn | 2023 | Erotica, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
so close to 5 stars but I needed the guys too!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

One thing, and one thing alone stopped this book getting 5 stars. Well, maybe 2, but the second thing is just me being greedy, but I'm allowed, right??

So that thing? Single person point of view. Only Ari has a say, in the first person. Now, I always want to hear from everyone, but I think HERE, in this case, I am fully justified in wanting to hear from Magnus, the vampire; Gareth, the yeti; Gabe and Lucien, the gargoyles and Rivak, but I'm not telling you what he is, it takes time for the full reveal and you do need that suspense! But it was Rivak that I needed to hear from the most. When he tells of why he holds himself back, you understand but I needed to hear from HIM, you know?

There are other points that I need to make, but I don't think these affect my star rating. The rival clan thing was never fully explained. And I would have loved more about that way this clan of 5 came to be, their history.

It's clear that Ari's two friends, Cami and Lyssa, have a story with their own clan. I hope I get to read them!

So, the other thing that's just me being greedy?? It's very much Ari and HER mates. I would have loved that they were ALL mates, you know?? Obviously, not Gabe and Lucien, since they are twins, but I would have loved some contact between the monsters as well as Ari, you know?? Greedy, like I said!

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere