This was giving gothic YA supernatural horror vibes all combined with a sweet Sapphic romance. Think turn of the screw meets night of the living dead This was giving gothic YA supernatural horror vibes all combined with a sweet Sapphic romance. Think turn of the screw meets night of the living dead slash pet Cemetery and you'll get the gist, but all with perhaps more of a spooky flavour and less of the graphic horror. Anyway it was suitably creepy and atmospheric. It was perhaps a tad slow to take off and get to the point hence my lower score and for the first say two-thirds of this I was tad bored. The last part was fast-paced and it was my favourite part.
It's all told from seventeen year-old Marin Blythe's POV who after the death of her mother is invited to spend the summer nannying for an old friend of her mother's Alive Lovelace. Marin with no place else to go jumps at the offer especially as she is also a big fan of Alice's horror novels.
Lovelace house is vast both inside and out. Marin's new charges Wren and Thea are intent on driving her away especially Wren who is bloody relentless. When Evie the oldest sibling arrives home from school ahead of time Marin is instantly smitten. But It's also not long before she realises that Evie and Lovelace house hold many secrets and these secrets could be dangerous.
So I enjoyed some parts of this more than others, it was well written and It did a great job at providing the suspenseful atmosphere. There did seem to be a lack of broader background included, so the nearby town and a lot of backstory isnt explored further which did let this down somewhat as we were very much operating in an isolated Bubble. The slow pace also wasn't conductive in retaining my attention and the last third of this was the strongest segment as a whole.
Don't go into this expecting some graphic horror style read it's more subtle than that maybe macabre is the correct term here. It YA so plays perfectly for its intended audience. The portrayed romance was sweet and not in any way explicit and I enjoyed the bond that developed naturally between Marin and Evie. There relationship was another plus point for me and it definitely felt authentic. There was no great surprises here but I really wasn't expecting there to be and overall this one was an easy read....more
This was intriguing and had some good ideas. The concept was imaginative a televised contest where special humans called Founts are clai[image] [image]
This was intriguing and had some good ideas. The concept was imaginative a televised contest where special humans called Founts are claimed as mates by Fae royalty on account of their pure chi blood. This particular essence is something that helps sustain them add in the ability to provide powerful heirs well it definitely makes them highly sort after not only by the Fae for mates but also by the blood cartels as well.
After meeting at a work conference Evee and Justin share an instant connection. Still, it’s complicated neither situations are ideal so despite her intense feelings Evee doesn’t see a future for them. When they both find themselves kidnapped and transported to an island on account of their unique blood they are gobsmacked to see each other again so soon. Both now determined to escape their shared fate Evee and Justin pull out all of the stops to turn the tide whilst Evee also continues to fight their inevitable connection. Whilst at the same time also wanting to just surrender to her feelings.
So the idea was interesting but ultimately I didn’t enjoy this as much as I was expecting to. I just couldn’t feel any chemistry at all between these two and their interactions together failed to convince me on any deeper level of their bond. It also dragged for me slightly and I found myself bored in places. Some of the plot directions I also wasn’t a fan of how to explain this without giving away spoilers well when Justin and Evee finally come together I couldn’t help but feel that the whole experience cheapened everything and I definitely wasn’t a fan of how it all played out. I think this is one of the main reasons that I decided this series probably isn’t for me. Be aware that this isn’t a stand-alone and does end on a slight cliffhanger it isn’t a massive one but there is more to come and the story is yet to be concluded. But I’m thinking this may be the end of the road for me I just couldn’t get invested in the characters though the writing itself was ok.
We also get to see where Liam and Brooke from the prequel are doing and they are a part of this as well so we get to see where they're at but through the eyes of Justin and Evee. I definitely think this has potential and an intriguing storyline. I just, unfortunately, couldn’t get on board with it. I voluntary reviewed a copy of Taken by Twilight.
This is a young adult re-imagining of the classic fairy-tale Snow White. Told from two POV's Lynet and her stepmother Mina's this is narrated fr[image]
This is a young adult re-imagining of the classic fairy-tale Snow White. Told from two POV's Lynet and her stepmother Mina's this is narrated from both a past and a present viewpoint jumping between the two time-frames. A reckoning and cultivated rivalry between two young women. Both want nothing more than to be loved for what's in their hearts and though they seem so different initially both just really want the acceptance of those around them. This is a story of strong woman and weak men, its not really about good or evil and neither woman here is all good or all bad, instead, this is more a story of family bonds and sisterhood. I actually had great sympathy for Mina and what she had evolved into, she was a product of her past and was used to coming in last, so It was not really surprising that she acted the way she did. Kindness is not something she has had directed her way before so she believes she is at her core unlovable. So why the low rating for this one, well, in a nutshell, I was bored, it moved at a snail's pace and I didn't really enjoy it at all. I found myself skimming whole chunks of text and if it wasn't for the fact this was an arc I don't think I would have bothered finishing as I just wasn't invested in this at all. There was nothing actually wrong with this and the writing itself was fine it was just a bit blah and unexciting. If you like fairy-tale retellings you might like this one. I usually am a big fan of them but this one unfortunately just didn't work for me on any level. I voluntary reviewed a copy of Girls Made of Snow and Glass
This begins right where we left off with the previous book and almost straight from the start new battle lines are being drawn and the whole st[image]
This begins right where we left off with the previous book and almost straight from the start new battle lines are being drawn and the whole structure of this most unconventional little arrangement is in real danger here of imploding as all crumbles from the top all the way down to its currently rocky foundations. So this story was a complete rollercoaster and being invited along for the journey was akin to taking a complete mystery tour. One with such a fluid attitude towards the fringes of love and acceptance and a complete disregard for the conventional. Mate is a dirty and decadent playground with an unorthodox approach to what is usually the expected behaviour. Sometimes the freedom to just be is needed to be able to fly and flourish and the love and acceptance of the ones we hold dear is all that is needed to be true to ourselves. Mate is an exploration of this freedom and it really was compelling reading. As usual, it was excellently written and I just adored being back in the midst of Alex, Beth, Pascal and Lilah and as for that finale, well let us just say that it was as unconventional as the rest of this but felt just so fitting and appropriate all the same. The rules of romance are held to a slightly different standard than the norm with this particular Quartet. So yeh until the next time Bravo such a fitting finale this actually was. I voluntary reviewed a copy of Mate (Crossover Duet #2).
Lilah, Pascal, Beth and Alex are back with more debauched antics and I for one couldn't wait to experience more mischief and mayhem as we get t [image]
Lilah, Pascal, Beth and Alex are back with more debauched antics and I for one couldn't wait to experience more mischief and mayhem as we get to experience the upcoming events this time told from all four pov's. So this is a continuation of the original series set roughly two years down the line. For full appreciation here you really do need to start this journey with the White Trilogy followed by the VDB Trilogy: then this, The Crossover Duet completes the set. So here Alex is unravelling and whatever is causing him to feel this way is having a knock-on effect ricocheting down the line affecting all in this unusual quad in some form or other. Beth feels unloved, Pascal feels Ignored and Lilah well her priority is always going to be Pascal. As for Alex whos does he turn to when hes the top, the one usually in charge. Alex is suffering and in true form, that means he behaves like a dolt to all around him. But all this is thrown to one side when events conspire that send Pascal racing home to claim his birthright. There is no rule book in this particular series so its best you just go with the flow here. This is as usual decadently dirty and anything goes The characters in this series are some of my most favourite too date, Totally flawed, kinky as hades and completely unpredictable. As usual, this one was another bumpy ride and I am now looking forward to part two. I voluntary reviewed a copy of Check (Crossover Duet, #1).
Bex (Beckie Bookworm)
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