This romance was super cute, and I loved how both characters were also focused on their career and romance. ---------------
Ngl.... IOverall Rating: 4/5
This romance was super cute, and I loved how both characters were also focused on their career and romance. ---------------
Ngl.... I lowkey forgot what I wanted to write about in this review so.. sorry if it's unorganized...
This book took me out of a mini-slump. I had just read a bad book and DNFed another so I was really hoping this romance book was what I needed. And I was right! This book was super cute and light on the smut (as I don't care for it much in romance books). We got to see each characters grow in their careers while getting to know each other and I found myself really enjoying the world of F1 racing. I don't think I've ever read the brother's rival troupe so this was pretty interesting and made for some fun drama. Lowkey Maya was messy for going after someone her brother hated LMAO.
Maya and Noah were very cute. I enjoyed the banter between the two and I honestly loved how honestly they were. It's refreshing. Noah stated that he only wanted something sexual in the beginning of their "romance" and I feel like many MMCs don't tend to communicate that until its too late so seeing Noah be honest about that and how he doesn't want anything more was a bit respectable. Because contrary to popular belief I think anybody can purse only sexual relationships if they want to as long as the partner consents to only wanting sex as well. As for Maya, I both give her props and the side eye. After hearing Noah's proposition to s "sex-only" relationship she stood her ground and stood true to her beliefs in saying she only wanted sex with a personal connection. I feel like authors try to hard and when a FMC wants the MMC to like them they do the "I can change him" approach by hoping the sex can stir feelings. But with Ms. Asher, she instead say "nah fam fuck that shit my FMC stands up to her beliefs." This made me respect Maya a ton.
(view spoiler)[ AND WHEN NOAH WENT TO ACTUAL FUCKING THERAPY?!?!?!?! I fucking folded right there because I've never read anything more sexy than a man wanting to change for himself and for a woman who he can see as a potential life partner. Seeing Noah work through his struggles almost made me cry because unfortunately men irl rarely care to fix their trauma.... same can be said for some women but either way I was so happy for Noah when he got help. (hide spoiler)]
Overall the romance was cute however I will say I felt like it did drag a bit after the main climax of the story passed but after reading that epilogue I melted a little at the couples sweetness :)
I'm a bit worried to start the second book as I didn't really like Sophie......more
This was a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy. There was so much going on in terms of drama, action, and relationships that I coulOverall Rating: 5/5
This was a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy. There was so much going on in terms of drama, action, and relationships that I couldn't look away. It was almost as if I was continuously looking at a car crash and it just kept getting crazier.
Now is this book good? I would say so but it's definitely not for the intellectuals. But is it entertaining? HELL FUCKING YES. I couldn't get enough of it.
Neil's relationship with the team has grown so much since the start of the book and I feel like a proud mother seeing her kids finally getting along... It was so heartwarming to read about and I was so happy for him, especially when him and Andrew finally got past their trauma and could reconsider their relationship into being something more than "nothing." Their enemies to lovers relationship was so good because of the slow burn and I loved how slow Nora made it because of how traumatized the two were. They became friends and learned how to trust each other and knew not to push each other. The way CONSENT was expressed through their relationship was probably the best thing I've ever read. I could cry thinking about it because i loved it so much.
And I know that this is a bit off topic but I wanted to talk about Neil's mother in at least one of my reviews... I honestly don't know how to feel about her. I felt like she could've done a better job at raising Neil and used her connections with the mafia family in the UK. But considering she was trying so hard to keep Neil away from it I can see why she never used it. She could've been a better mom but at the end of the day she was a scared, paranoid, and cornered woman so I feel empathy towards her. I lowkey wish we got more flashbacks so I could try and understand her character more but.... oh well...
Overall this series was one of the best non-fantasy series I've ever read and I don't think I'll ever see anything like this again. I'll be keeping this series close to my heart....more
This is the love letter to my hopeless romantic soul! The way the author made me feel butterflies, rainbows, and sunshine with the two characters (whiThis is the love letter to my hopeless romantic soul! The way the author made me feel butterflies, rainbows, and sunshine with the two characters (while Helene was irritable at times lol)! I love them. There's no other way to describe it other than love, which is what describes every aspect of this book. Of course, you get the inkling of fantasy, but that inkling made it so much more romantic. I wish I had time to write the review this book deserves, but I don't have the time right now, so I'm just babbling.
If you get anything from this book... it'll be that being actually being delulu in your romantic endeavors is the solulu.
And Evelyn's backstory to making this book... UGH ...more
I just finished Vampires of El Norte..... I need Isabel Cañas to pay for my therapy because I'm about to be her #1 stalker! I just finished Vampires of El Norte..... I need Isabel Cañas to pay for my therapy because I'm about to be her #1 stalker! ...more
Wow. This book was... wow. My first V.E. Schwab novel and I'm glad it was because the writing, the characters, the dual timeline was beautiful. I don'Wow. This book was... wow. My first V.E. Schwab novel and I'm glad it was because the writing, the characters, the dual timeline was beautiful. I don't even know what to write in this review... this book took my breath away.
I guess to start I don't like. I've seen the controversy surrounding this book considering its very white despite the book spanned across 300 years of history... like you'd think miss girl would venture out of Europe considering Africa and Asia were right next door but ig not... It was disappointing as I always love to see how history will be written in these types of books as I know how beautiful and ugly it can be. I will applaud the author on her use of LGBTQ characters as it was wonderful to read about about them being bi, lesbian, or gay.
I also didn't know how to feel about Luc, I'm going to call him Lucifer because he was cruel at times. But Lucifer was such a strange character I never knew what I was getting with him, until the end I never really knew if he actually fell in love with Addie or was just obsessed with her. Like she transitioned from someone he hated to someone who amused him to someone he needed. (I will say that one quote had me on my knees tho lol) Like the old woman said at the beginning of the book... they are fickle but I think Lucifer was fickle and pig-headed. It seemed like he appreciated what humans could do but was also grateful not to be considered one of them. Where he saw the ugly, Addie saw the beauty even after 300 years. You won't ever see me messing with gods because they're just in a world of their own and while humans are scary, I know how kind and beautiful they can be. And I'm glad for Addie in the end... I hope she gets what she wants and plays that Lucifer for a fool.
Addie and Henry were so adorable. I love how Addie acknowledged how imperfect and messy love can be. The two grew so much with each other and it was nice to read about someone who's lived 300 years still get new experiences while the other has only lived 30 but was able to experience lifetimes. Their endings were sad and made me cry like a bitch but it was also very heartwarming and I hope they can both find their happy endings as it was a bit of an open ending. (view spoiler)[ In my dreams Addie finally gets free of Lucifer and she finds Henry again even it happens years later... That's my perfect ending for them. (hide spoiler)]
Overall despite the shortcomings this was a beautiful book and great for those who love character heavy stories.
This book made me ugly cry... like ya gurl was sobbing... ------- So the sequel wasn't as good as the first book imo but evenReread Overall Rating 4.75/5
This book made me ugly cry... like ya gurl was sobbing... ------- So the sequel wasn't as good as the first book imo but even then, it didn't disappoint. Seeing the Valorian politics in this book was great. Court life in any adaption I've seen sucks booty cheeks as many women try to do the right thing or keep themselves secure only to fall prey others. Kestrel honestly fit into the Valorian court well as she was always thinking of ways to find information or see who was on her side. The crown prince was also a welcome edition and really added to Kestrel's character as they felt a sense of kinship with one another, one being an unloved son of the emperor and the other a general's daughter.
Kestrel's character was a bit hypocritical at times as she would so something so smart to find information or sneak out the palace but when it came to Arin it was like miss girl became the dumbest person in the room.... like huh??? GIRLY TALK TO HIM ITS NOT THAT HARD. Arin was pissing me off too because in the first book he seemed just as smart as Kestrel yet couldn't see what her true intentions were?? broski.... pls just LOOK... But I honestly get why as Kestrel has this man on a leash LMAO...
The romance was obviously still giving this book and was even more angsty than the last UGHHHH... Not to mention the tension the two had... the complex emotions they were experiencing when away from each other ughhhhh I loved it.
However, I would have to say my favotite thing about this book was the relationship Kestrel has with her father. I felt like there was a lot more depth and nuance to their relationship than what was described in the first book and the ending made me FUCKING SOB... LIKE I WAS DOING AN UGLY GIRL CRY... and yes I cry at almost anything BUT THATS NOT THE POINT.. I love when authors describe complex relationship dynamics between parent and child and the one that Kestrel has with her father is probably the most heartbreaking ones I've read yet... like I could tell Kestrel loved him.
The only reason I didn't rate this 5 stars was because Arin's little side quest was uhh... lowkey boring to me... Like it was relevant to his development and plot but it was still boring... but we got a funny character out of it so I didn't take off too many points for it.
Overall, the second book only made me love this series more and I can't wait to read the next one.
This reread hit so much better than when I was younger. I loved this series as a young teen and I Reread! Overall rating: 5 stars! (old rating 4 stars)
This reread hit so much better than when I was younger. I loved this series as a young teen and I love it so much more because of how different it is from other YA fantasy books and some adult. The world building was great, there was no info dumping, each character had their own distinct personality, and the romance was ROMANCING UGHHHHH.
My favorite thing about this book wasn't Kestrel or Arin but instead the romance between the two. If anyone wants an angsty enemies-to-lovers THIS is the book you need to read. The author did such an amazing job at making the romance between the the MCs a slow burn. Their relationship dynamic was so complex throughout the story as it went from interest to disinterest to attraction to hatred to friendship then romantic then back to hatred (view spoiler)[ because of betrayal (hide spoiler)] only to start the cycle all over again. it was beautiful! The political climate of the book also added to the romance as their on different sides which added to the characters complex feelings. UGHHH I could talk about their romance for days and it still won't be enough to describe how much I LOVED IT!
Moving onto the characters. Kestrel is so unique as an FMC as she's not your typically strong fantasy heroine. She knows that brute strength is her weakness and makes up for it by being one of the smartest people in the book. I won't lie and say she's 100% smart 100% of the time but I think that's intentional as Kestrel has never had to use her mind to strategize for war or for her own survival making her a bit naive (view spoiler)[ which ultimately leads her to being betrayed quite easily but it will definitely give her experience for future books. (hide spoiler)] Then there's her love for music. I feel like authors sometimes forget that their characters can be so much more than the "leader" or "fighter" that their fantasy plot need and don't often give them a personality or hobby outside of the plot or conflict but with Kestrel, her love of music is so ingrained in her that it causes her to be more imaginative and space out which I love! Ugh, she's definitely one of my favorite FMCs for real.
Now, moving onto Arin. He's such a leader in the making but I love how loyal he is to the people he loves and I think that's mainly because of the loss he's experienced. He starts off as a slave and then plots to take his home country back so I loved how he took advantage of the situations he was put in and made use of it. Slavery gave him trauma but it also gave him experience as he used stealth, strength, and the egos of his colonizers to his advantage for the freedom of his people. Not to mention, he also has a hidden personality which I won't spoil but its very much locked away probably because of the hardships he's had to endure and I feel like the only way he'll let his personality shine is towards the end of the series when he's finally free of his mental and physical chains. He's also just as smart as Kestrel which is why I think they're a great pairing (I will say I think Kestrel has the potential to be smarter but since she doesn't have much experience in deception that's where he has her beat.)
Overall, this book was so much better than when I read it when I was younger and now I see why. UGHHHHHH I read it in a day! I'm already reading the second book during the writing of this review and I can tell that the second book is definitely going to be a 5 star read! ...more
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