i’m no stranger to disliking main characters, and that’s exactly what happened here. the plot was decent, though billionaire romances ar— 1.5 stars ☆
i’m no stranger to disliking main characters, and that’s exactly what happened here. the plot was decent, though billionaire romances aren’t usually my thing, so i wasn’t too surprised when the storyline didn’t grip me. however, what really dragged this down for me were the characters—particularly vivian, who managed to annoy me throughout most of the book.
as for the romance? i was pretty much against it from the start. there was zero chemistry between dante and vivian, and i found myself rolling my eyes more often than not whenever they were on the page together. this was my first time reading anything by this author, and honestly, i don’t think i’ll be picking up another one. there’s nothing about this book that would make me want to revisit the series....more
i was excited to dive into this book after enjoying the first one, but it ended up being a huge disappointment. first off, i didn— 1 star ☆
dnf @ 13%
i was excited to dive into this book after enjoying the first one, but it ended up being a huge disappointment. first off, i didn’t know that it would focus on different characters introduced in the previous book. i didn’t care about them then, and i definitely don’t care about them now. i kept waiting for chapters with fallon and julian, only to be let down when they never showed up. i made it nearly 100 pages in before i realized there was no way i was going to push through 700 pages for characters i didn’t even like.
so yeah, that sucked. i really wanted to continue enjoying this series, but this book just wasn’t it for me.
i absolutely hated this book. it’s hands down one of the worst things i’ve ever forced myself to read, and i regret every single second of — 1 star ☆
i absolutely hated this book. it’s hands down one of the worst things i’ve ever forced myself to read, and i regret every single second of it. i fell victim again to the hype surrounding a book that didn’t deserve a fraction of the praise it gets. from the very first chapter, i was cringing so hard it hurt, and it only went downhill from there.
the characters? completely unbearable. the plot? a complete mess. and the writing? absolutely atrocious. it was almost impossible to take this book seriously when i came across lines like, “mother forking crap on a cracker!” it’s absurd that dialogue like this exists in a story that’s supposed to have any sort of depth.
this book was just so incredibly weird, and not in a good way—just in a “please, never again” kinda way. i wish i could go back in time and save myself from the torture of reading it. the dialogue was horrendous, the writing was even worse, and i didn’t care about a single thing that happened. i’m just relieved i only wasted a few hours on this disaster, but honestly, that’s a few hours too many....more
so this was bad. there was a lot wrong with this and very few good things. let’s talk about the bad things.
first off, the romance.
the i— 1.75 stars ☆
so this was bad. there was a lot wrong with this and very few good things. let’s talk about the bad things.
first off, the romance.
the insta-love ruined any potential tension. corvina and vad’s relationship moved way too fast for there to be any real emotional connection. from the moment they laid eyes on each other, it was like they were suddenly meant to be without any real build-up or chemistry. this kind of insta-love killed any tension or excitement the book could have had. instead of letting the relationship develop naturally, it jumped straight into intense feelings with no real foundation. it was hard to get invested in them when it felt like they barely knew each other, yet were acting like soulmates.
on top of that, vad’s character wasn’t explored enough either. he remained a mystery throughout the entire book, but not in the intriguing, brooding way you’d expect. instead, he just felt flat. there were hints of a backstory and moments where he seemed like he could be more than just the “dark, mysterious love interest,” but nothing ever came of it. for someone who’s supposed to be such a key part of the story, his motivations and inner thoughts were barely touched on. his character was all surface-level attraction without any substance to make the reader actually care about him.
finally, there were so many unanswered questions by the end of the book. after dragging out the mysteries and buildup for the entire story, everything was wrapped up so quickly and abruptly that it felt like the author was just trying to get it over with. things like the black ball disappearances were hinted at but never fully explained, and the rushed conclusion left so many loose ends. it was frustrating because there was so much potential for a dramatic resolution, but in the end, it felt half-baked and disappointing....more
i didn’t think it was possible, but diem has somehow managed to become even more intolerable in this book. i barely made — 1.5 stars ☆
dnf @ page 209
i didn’t think it was possible, but diem has somehow managed to become even more intolerable in this book. i barely made it 20% into the book before i had to throw in the towel—because, frankly, there’s only so much idiocy one person can endure. diem’s sheer incompetence has reached new, dizzying heights, and i found myself dreading every single page she was on.
the concept still has so much potential, but absolutely nothing can redeem a story that’s anchored by such an infuriating protagonist. the war, the intrigue, the ancient magic—all of it is completely overshadowed by diem’s hypocritical, self-righteous stupidity. she stumbles through every situation, making one bad choice after another, yet still plays the victim.
by the time i reached the 20% mark, i realized there was no point in subjecting myself to any more of her nonsense. diem has made what could have been an exciting fantasy into something hard to get through. she’s the kind of protagonist who makes you want to rip the book in half out of sheer frustration.
i’ve officially hit my limit. no matter how intriguing the plot might have been, diem’s idiocy has drained every ounce of enjoyment from this series. not even the promise of unraveling the mysteries or seeing the war’s outcome could tempt me to continue. i refuse to waste another minute on a character so utterly insufferable.
spark of the everflame: 2.75 stars ☆ glow of the everflame: 2.75 stars ☆...more
i went into this book with high hopes, especially given all the hype surrounding it. the premise was intriguing, and i was excited to ex— 2.5 stars ☆
i went into this book with high hopes, especially given all the hype surrounding it. the premise was intriguing, and i was excited to explore a world of assassins, a post-apocalyptic setting, and magical conflicts. however, it just didn’t live up to my expectations, and i ended up feeling a bit let down.
the plot had a lot of potential, and there were moments where i could see the foundation of a really great story. but unfortunately, it just didn’t grab me the way i hoped it would. i kept waiting for that moment where everything would click and i’d be fully invested, but it never quite happened. it was predictable, and i found myself getting bored as the story went on.
gray, the main character, is supposed to be this badass assassin, but that didn’t really come across in the story. while she’s introduced as someone who’s supposed to be highly skilled, we don’t see much evidence of that after her initial success. instead, she keeps falling short, which made it hard to buy into her reputation. it was frustrating to watch her fail repeatedly, especially when she’s supposed to be one of the best.
that said, there are some interesting dynamics at play, and i can see how others might enjoy the tension and relationships that develop. but for me, gray’s attitude made it tough to really root for her. she often comes across as abrasive, and her interactions with others only emphasize that. yet, there are brief moments where you can see the potential for her to be a much more compelling character.
in the end, i really wanted to like this book, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. while the concept and world-building had promise, the execution fell short, leaving me more disappointed than captivated....more
there’s nothing more infuriating than picking up a book that’s been hyped beyond belief, only to find yourself regretting every e— 1 star ☆
dnf @ 12%
there’s nothing more infuriating than picking up a book that’s been hyped beyond belief, only to find yourself regretting every excruciating page. i forced myself through 42 pages before finally giving up, and honestly, that was 41 pages too many. the main character, rosalina, is one of the most pathetic, spineless, and downright idiotic protagonists i’ve ever had the misfortune to read about.
rosalina doesn’t waste any time proving just how clueless she is. her ex-boyfriend, who treated her like absolute trash, rolls back into town, and what does she do? when he casually proposes, she can’t even decide how to feel about it. after all the crap he put her through, she’s still stuck in indecision? it’s like she’s allergic to having any self-respect. the entire situation is so mind-numbingly stupid that it’s almost a joke—except it’s not funny, it’s just painfully bad.
the writing only adds to the disaster. set in modern-day, the dialogue feels completely out of place, as if it’s confused about what era it’s supposed to be in. and the random studio ghibli reference? it’s like a slap in the face to anyone expecting a cohesive fairy tale vibe. the attempt to blend modern and fantasy elements was a colossal failure, leaving nothing but a jarring, disjointed mess. not a single aspect of this book was remotely enjoyable.
i tried to give this book a chance, but there’s nothing worth holding onto. from the first few pages, it was clear this was going to be a train wreck. hyped up? sure. worth any of that hype? absolutely not....more
i’m pretty good with dark books—for the most part, i don’t get phased easily. but this? this just sucked. the world of orea, with its gilde— 1 star ☆
i’m pretty good with dark books—for the most part, i don’t get phased easily. but this? this just sucked. the world of orea, with its gilded everything and midas's "precious" touch, didn’t grip me at all. instead of being dazzled, i was pretty much grossed out by everything from the start.
let’s talk about the characters, or rather, the lack of anything likable about them. the protagonist, auren, was a total disappointment. she’s portrayed as this gold-skinned pet, kept in a cage, and despite everything, she seems to idolize the very person who's keeping her prisoner.
her constant justifications for midas's actions made me want to scream. seriously, girl, open your eyes. and king midas? he’s the textbook definition of a manipulative creep, hiding behind his golden facade. there’s nothing appealing about their so-called relationship. it’s just toxic, and not in the fun, dark fantasy way.
the plot itself was a mess. there were moments that were so cringy and ridiculous that i had to put my kindle down just to process what i’d read. and the pacing? it was all over the place—either dragging on or rushing through scenes that could’ve been interesting but instead just turned into more cringe.
honestly, by the time i was halfway through, i was just reading to see if it could possibly get worse. spoiler alert: it did.
so, will i read the next book? probably, but only because i’m curious if it could get any better. but after this, i’m not exactly optimistic.
i thought the first book was bad, but somehow, this one managed to be even worse. i honestly can’t even tell you what happened because my — 1 star ☆
i thought the first book was bad, but somehow, this one managed to be even worse. i honestly can’t even tell you what happened because my brain must have blocked out the trauma of reading it. jacks was the only remotely redeemable thing in this entire mess, but let’s be real, even he couldn’t save it from being a total dumpster fire.
the writing was a nightmare—worse than before, if that’s even possible—and the constant retconning was enough to make me want to throw my kindle across the room. and don’t get me started on tella. if stupidity was a genetic trait, these sisters hit the jackpot. tella was an absolute brat, and her attitude made me want to scream. as if that wasn’t enough, the big reveal that dante is legend was just the final nail in the coffin. what a colossal letdown.
i barely survived reading this and there’s no way i’m putting myself through the torture of the final book. maybe ouabh will be better, but after this disaster, i’m not holding my breath.
overhyped. again. i fell victim to the buzz and was left regretting every minute of it. i went in with high expectations — 1.5 stars ☆
dnf @ page 299
overhyped. again. i fell victim to the buzz and was left regretting every minute of it. i went in with high expectations (my fault) and barely made it past the halfway mark before i gave up at 53%. by then, i just didn't care anymore.
the concept seemed promising—a world with dragons turned moons, fae politics, and rebellion—but the execution was tedious and overly complicated, with its endless glossary and terminology that added more weight than wonder.
and the characters? flat, uninspiring, and frankly, lifeless. raeve, the supposed assassin for the rebellion, lacked any real spark. her interactions with kaan were meant to ignite with chemistry but barely managed a flicker.
even the dragons, which should have been the highlight, felt like an afterthought. i found out what happens in the second half, and i’m glad i didn't waste any more time because it would have been just more of the same dull, uninspired storytelling....more
unravel me left me more frustrated than the first book, primarily due to the characters, juliette and adam, who are increasingly grating. — 2 stars ☆
unravel me left me more frustrated than the first book, primarily due to the characters, juliette and adam, who are increasingly grating. juliette’s naivety and constant self-pity make it difficult to root for her; she comes across as both annoying and somewhat pathetic. adam isn’t any better, and their interactions just amplify the worst in each other. the highlight of the book was undoubtedly when kenji finally calls juliette out on her self-absorption, delivering a reality check that was sorely needed.
it took me almost five months to finish this book because i hated it so much…. even though i really didn't like it, i’m committed to finishing the series, hoping the upcoming books will be better. but so far, it’s been a struggle to get through all the teenage melodrama and frustrating character arcs.
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