It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn | BOOK REVIEW

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Non-spoiler

I still have one more book to read in this series but I THINK THIS IS MY FAVOURITE! I absolutely adore Hyacinth and she was a captivating and brilliant heroine in this book. I loved the mystery element, the romance, and the humour. The epilogue had me simultaneously frustrated and ecstatic! I don’t even know how that’s possible.

Hyacinth is probably my favourite Bridgerton sibling. She didn’t star in the show very much so I didn’t know what to expect but she’s perfect. She’s intelligent, outspoken and unashamed to be herself. She doesn’t apologise and she has a certain charm and sarcasm that instantly endeared me to her. I also loved Gareth. There are some questionable love interests throughout this series but Gareth was great. He was entertaining, funny and could match Hyacinth’s wit. I loved their banter and it was a joy to read.

I think the reason why I love this book more than the others is because this one had an actual subplot! We had a mystery to solve throughout this book and it was so much fun to watch Hyacinth and Gareth discover all the clues and try to solve the mystery. Like I said, the epilogue was both infuriating and satisfying and it makes me desperate to read the following short story to see if Hyacinth ever finds the jewels!

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn | BOOK REVIEW

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Non-spoiler

I really loved this one! I absolutely fell in love with this book and this couple. When He Was Wicked is definitely the steamiest Bridgerton book so far. The romance was scorching and addictive so, if that’s you cuppa tea, this is the book for you.

I didn’t know much about Francesca going into this book but I liked her. I can’t say she’s my favourite female protagonist of them all but she was smart and funny and passionate. Michael… was probably one of my favourite male protagonists, though. He was funny, charming, sexy and nowhere near as problematic as some of the other characters (after Phillip in the last book, Michael seemed like he fell from heaven).

I thought the ‘I’m-in-love-with-my-cousins-wife’ take on a popular trope was fun, well done and worked really well for the characters. I was glued to the page whenever Francesca and Michael were in the same scene and the ending was beyond satisfying.

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn | BOOK REVIEW

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Non-spoiler

I had high expectations for this book. Eloise is my favourite character in the show and, while I knew I couldn’t expect the book version of her to be quite so iconic… I was disappointed. It was a flat story and probably my least favourite pairing of all the books so far.

I went into these books fully aware that Eloise wasn’t going to be the explicit feminist icon that she was in the show. That wasn’t what bothered me about the book. Phillip bothered me. He’s not good enough for Eloise. I understood Phillip’s background and trauma but that man was a raging red flag! He has definite anger issues and doesn’t listen to Eloise on so many occasions. I don’t mind a quiet and introverted character (I would be quite hypocritical to do so) but he was rude and dismissive for no reason. Eloise deserves much better.

The side characters we saw were mainly Oliver and Amanda and, while I liked watching them slowly come to like Eloise, they annoyed the hell out of me. They were really rude and boisterous and (for someone who isn’t great with kids) I would be so overwhelmed in their presence. I also couldn’t stand Phillip’s anger and aggression towards his kids. No, he never hit them, but he thought about it so much that it made me really uncomfortable. Red flag. Red flag. Red flag.

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julian Quinn | BOOK REVIEW

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Spoilers

I’ve been looking forward to Colin and Penelope’s book and it didn’t disappoint! Penelope is such a sweetheart and this story made me love her even more. I loved reading in her perspective and learning more about her experiences and reasons for becoming Lady Whistledown. I also adore Colin- he’s so much funnier and more interesting in the books. I hope the show can portray him with justice in the following seasons.

Watching Colin and Penelope’s relationship unfold was beautiful. I feel like they bring the best out of each other- Colin gives Penelope confidence and Penelope helped Colin realise his dreams of being a writer.

I really enjoyed the plotline of Lady Whistledown’s identity and how it all came out. It was fun knowing from the beginning that Penelope was behind the whole thing and it was great to see Penelope grow confidence and a sense of pride over what she has accomplished.

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn | BOOK REVIEW

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Non-spoiler

I sped through this so fast! I couldn’t get enough! Benedict and Sophie’s story was a Cinderella retelling which I absolutely adored. This story had MAJOR love-at-first-sight vibes but it didn’t annoy me all that much. I just accepted the insta-love and let myself enjoy the book.

Benedict was one of my favourites from the TV show and the book did nothing but strengthen my love of him. I thought Sophie was a perfect match for him (though, I really wanted TV show Benedict to be gay…). I loved the Cinderella-esque qualities of Sophie’s circumstances and watching the two of them develop a relationship was beautiful.

I also especially loved this book because we got to see our first true appearance of Eloise! She was definitely my favourite character of the show so I’ve been waiting not-so-patiently for her to show up in the books! I loved that we saw glimpses of Benedict and Eloise’s close bond because I adored their dynamic in the show.

I continue to absolutely love Colin, despite him being such a minor character at the moment! I don’t think the show has done his character justice just yet- he’s constantly making me smile and laugh! I also have to say that my initial opinion of book- Violet has changed. At first, I thought she was pushy and annoying but I like her a lot more now- she’s funny, kind and extremely clever.

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn | BOOK REVIEW

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Non-spoiler

Immediately, I can say that I enjoyed this so much more than the first book! Maybe it was my love of Anthony. Maybe it was my love of Kate. Or maybe it was because I am complete trash for the enemies-to-lovers trope.

I had so much fun reading this book. Anthony and Kate were a perfect pairing and watching their banter and conversations made me feel so full! Kate was infinitely a better female protagonist to Daphne. Kate was smart and funny and stubborn and stood up for herself. Paired with Anthony (who I adore), they were perfect.

I liked that their relationship was a slower pace than Daphne and Simon’s and felt more natural. It was nice to see how protective Kate was of her sister Edwina and I also loved delving into Anthony’s past a bit more and discovering how close he was to his father.

Overall, this book was so much better than The Duke and I and it has me undeniably excited for season 2 of Bridgerton. I think the casting of Kate is perfect and I can’t wait to see her character brought to life!

Wandavision | TV REVIEW

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Spoilers

WandaVision is Marvel’s most original and ambitious story yet. I was apprehensive going into this show because I had no idea what to expect. But I should never doubt Marvel because it was phenomenal! The sitcom through the decades was funny and charming and I think this story worked so well as a show rather than a movie- it gave us a chance to make predictions and theories which was maybe the best part.

The first couple of pure-sitcom episodes were a joy to watch. I loved the humour and quirkiness of the concept. But the story is elevated when the real-world elements came into play. It was an ambitious concept and plot but it played out perfectly, with twists and turns at every point and satisfying character arcs.

Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany truly stole the show. I’ve never minded Wanda or Vision but I found a whole new love for them during this show- especially Wanda. Her character development was complex and captivating. Her powers (and costume!) were awesome and there is no doubt that she’s the strongest Avengers. She’s been through so much and it was heart-breaking to see her deal with grief and work through that. I was close to tears so many tears because, out of everyone, she has lost the most and Olsen portrayed Wanda’s grief spectacularly. The theme of grief also presented maybe one of my favourite Marvel quotes ever: “What is grief, if not love persevering?”

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn | BOOK REVIEW

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Spoilers

I binge-watched the Netflix show and had to read the books to deal with my withdrawal until the next season. This was a fun experience- usually I read the book before watching the adaptation- but I enjoyed picking out all the similarities and differences. I preferred the show to the book (which doesn’t happen often) but there’s many reasons for this.

There were some big differences in the characters which shocked me. I liked Daphne a lot more in this book- she had more personality. Colin was another character that surprised me- in the show, he comes across as sweet and naïve and innocent. In the books, he’s portrayed as a lot more mischievous, cheeky and promiscuous… which I kind of enjoyed? Show Colin was very goody-two-shoes for me. And finally, I think the last biggest character difference was Violet. I really liked her in the show but in the book, she seemed shrill and controlling and over-the-top. Wasn’t a fan.

The writing style was a little odd and sometimes jarring for me to read. It was third-person limited but the perspective would also change between Daphne and Simon mid-chapter. It confused me and took me out of the story many times.

Scorched by Jennifer L. Armentrout | BOOK REVIEW

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Non-spoiler

I didn't know what to expect from Scorched (and not just because the blurb on the back was the wrong book...). I was hoping for a spicy enemies-to-lovers and it was kinda that but also so much more. This story touched on some really difficult and hard-hitting topics which I really appreciated. 

Compared to Frigid, I preferred Andrea and Tanner as characters. They were more entertaining and I lived for their flirty banter. They had a great dynamic and I found them more complex and interesting than Kyler and Sydney. Their romance was more intense and I was rooting for them from the very first page. 

While Frigid had a more 'thriller/mystery' element, Scorched dived straight into mental health subplot. I really appreciated how such delicate subjects were handled liked depression, anxiety and alcoholism were handled. This book got pretty serious at points but the struggles enhanced the romance and made the story and characters so much more realistic. 

Generally, I preferred Scorched to Frigid due to the depth and complexity of the plot and characters but both stories are amazing. These books are addictive and perfect reads for quick romance fix.

Frigid by Jennifer L. Armentrout | BOOK REVIEW

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Non-spoiler

I’m never shocked that I rate a JLA book 5 stars… it’s expected now. I love a contemporary romance and I especially love it when they’re written by my favourite author. This was a lovely friends-to-lovers romance and, the fact that it snowed where I am whilst reading this, made it even more immersive. It’s a perfect winter read.

Sydney and Kyler were great protagonists. They had great chemistry and a scorching romance. I will admit, there were a couple of times where I just wanted to shake them for being so oblivious, but that’s the fun of friends-to-lovers. Watching their relationship develop was entrancing and I couldn’t put the book down.

What I love most about Jen’s contemporary books is that it’s not all about the romance. There’s often subtle subplots and additions of thriller/mystery which makes everything so much more gripping. There was a stalker subplot to this book and, while the ‘antagonist’ was pretty predictable, it added another element and layer of intrigue to the book.

Crown of Bones by A. K. Wilder | ARC BOOK REVIEW

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I was sent an ARC of this book from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to jump into this book. The whole concept of being able to call up phantoms is awesome, and it created a great base to the book. I liked the book as a whole but I felt like a lot of things were told instead of shown to the reader.

My favourite characters had to be Ash and Kaylin. They were definitely the most interesting and, honestly, I skim read a lot of Marcus’ parts. Ash was a great female lead- she was smart and had a great determination which drove the story forward. I also loved Kaylin- he added a bit of humour and swoon-worthiness that this book definitely needed. I liked their blossoming romance but I was a little unsatisfied with how the book ended. We didn’t get to see Ash confront Kaylin about all the Mar reveals which would have tied up a few things ahead of the sequel.

The ending as a whole was unsatisfying to me. We had a massive fight on Aku which was done brilliantly but going back to Baiseen and the defences there were very rushed and glossed over. We didn’t get any closure and, while it is obviously the first book in a series and cliffhangers are to be expected, there wasn’t any sense of closure to the book. I wanted the others to see Ash’s phantom and I desperately wanted Ash to address why and how she could hear other people’s thoughts! It happened so much throughout the book and she didn’t even seem fazed! She didn’t discuss it or ponder what it meant at all!

Bridgerton Season 1 | TV REVIEW

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Spoilers

I need to preface this review by saying I’m not a massive fan of period dramas. It’s not my thing. Usually...

Along with the rest of the world, I have become obsessed with this show. I binged the whole thing and fell in love with absolutely everything. It was an emotional rollercoaster with gasp-worthy moments and scorching romance.

Daphne and Simon were the prominent storyline this season and… they certainly kept me on my toes. It was a great romance and they have heartbreaking highs and lows. The actors portray these characters so beautifully and it was easy to get invested in their romance. I will say that the pair are beyond perfect- there are definitely toxic and abusive traits in their relationship but I think it raises the right conversations.

Moving through the Bridgerton siblings… Anthony was one of my faves (and the most attractive to me). I loved his relationship with Sienna and it broke my heart to see them end the way they did- though I 100% respect Sienna for her decision. I also loved the duel scene between Simon and Anthony- I had my hand over my mouth the entire time, it was so intense! I liked seeing Anthony’s protective streak of his family and learning the pressures of being head of the household. I’m so excited that the next season will focus on his story.

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron | BOOK REVIEW

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I had really high expectations for this book- the concept, the diversity, the story sounded amazing to me! And it was a good book but… it didn’t blow me away. I thought the story was very convoluted and the characters were two-dimensional. It fell flat for me.

What I did like about the book was the interesting twist on the Cinderella fairytale, the diversity, and the romance. Sophia and Constance really were well-suited and brought the best out of each other. Their relationship was refreshing and lovely to follow. I also really liked Luke as a side character and wish we’d seen more of him.

I think what really pushed me back on this book was how surface level all of the characters were. Take Constance for example. We know she’s feisty, we know she’s strong and badass and resilient. But that was it. She was a tool to drive the plot forward and I wanted to know more about her. We didn’t delve deep into her vulnerabilities and her experiences. And that’s what it was like for most- if not all- of the characters. We had their motivation and that was about it.

de Vincent series by Jennifer L. Armentrout | BOOK REVIEW

Non-spoiler

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MOONLIGHT SINS

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I can’t resist a good romance book and this gave me everything I wanted. I love that there was a bit more secrecy wrapped into the story, creating a thriller/mystery type romance that kept me glued to the page. It had humour, it had plot twists and it had a scorching romance.

Lucian was a great love interest and Julia was also really endearing. I liked the pace of their relationship and it was great to see cameos of them in future books as well. Lucian is definitely the funniest and flirtiest of the de Vincent brothers. Out of all three books, this was my second favourites.

MOONLIGHT SEDUCTION 

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This was my least favourite of the three, but I still really enjoyed it. Nikki was a great protagonist and I preferred her to Julia but… Gabe is my least favourite de Vincent brother. There’s nothing even wrong with him but he didn’t make me laugh or intrigue me like the other two did.

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo | BOOK REVIEW

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Spoiler warning

This book didn’t live up to my expectations. Maybe I clung too much to my love of Nikolai but I found many parts of this book slow and I resisted the urge to skip Nina’s sections altogether. It was all too easy to put the book down and it meant that it took me ages to finish it.

Firstly, I love Nikolai and he was maybe the one thing that kept me reading. I also loved Zoya. I hated her in the original trilogy, but it was great to read in her perspective and see her perception of the world. I’m also a hardcore shipper of Nikolai and Zoya- they’re perfect for each other! They’re also a total power couple- they have the brains, power and devastating good looks. I’d give anything to see them go up against Kanej.

Nina’s storyline is what really held up the book. Sure, I’d like the introduction of Hanne and I ship her with Nina but their journey in Fjerda didn’t keep me gripped. I often put the book down when I saw a Nina chapter was next.

King of Scars did have a wealth of side characters that I loved. We saw old favourites- Genya, Tamar, Tolya, Adrik- and also met new people that I loved- Leoni, Isaak, Juris. The character interactions were my favourite scenes in the book.

I enjoyed King of Scars more than the Grisha trilogy but it definitely did not reach the perfection of the Six of Crows duology. I’m excited that the Darkling is back, though- hopefully, that will make things more interesting. I don’t have too high expectations for the next book but I do think it will be action -packed- there’s a lot of plot threads that need to resolved! And I can’t even begin to figure out how Nikolai and Nina’s separate storylines are going to link and converge.

2020 Faves

2020 was a very strange year but I did manage to read some amazing books and watch a lot of great tv shows and movies!

Favourite books of 2020

Ugly Love- Colleen Hoover

House of Earth and Blood- Sarah J. Maas

Wicked- Jennifer L. Armentrout

Torn- Jennifer L. Armentrout

Brave- Jennifer L. Armentrout

Get Your Sh*t Together- Sarah Knight

From Blood and Ash- Jennifer L. Armentrout

Rage and Ruin- Jennifer L. Armentrout

Supernova- Marissa Meyer

The Savior’s Sister- Jenna Moreci

The Female of the Species- Mindy McGinnis

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire- Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Brightest Night- Jennifer L. Armentrout

Crooked Kingdom- Leigh Bardugo

Moonlight Scandal- Jennifer L. Armentrout

Six of Crows + Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Barduo | BOOK REVIEW

SPOILER WARNING

SIX OF CROWS

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I’ve read this book before but I enjoyed it so much more this time! I’ve read the Grisha trilogy now so it was so much easier to fall into this world and feel right at home. Six of Crows is a thousand times better than the Grisha trilogy but it’s worth reading the original series first. The set of characters in this book is amazing and I fell in love with the character dynamics, the ambitious plot and flurry of twists and turns.

Kaz and Inej are my faves. I’m sorry but they’re a total power couple and I’m obsessed. I love how smart and cunning this book is and the majority of that is down to Kaz. His schemes and plans are infatuating and it’s so much fun trying to figure out what he’s planning. Inej is also awesome in her own right. She’s badass and a true asset to the team but she also stands up for herself and doesn’t settle for less than she deserves.

Jesper and Wylan are my next favourites. Jesper is definitely the biggest comedic relief in this book but all the characters get their own style of humour. Jesper and Wylan’s reluctant friendship turned to subtle flirting and caring made my heart soar! I can’t wait to see more of them in the next book and see how their dynamic develops.

STORM AND FURY- Jennifer L. Armentrout Book Review

 

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Jumping into a spin-off series comes with both excitement and apprehension.

I love The Dark Elements series. Layla is a kick-ass protagonist and Roth is arguably my favourite love interest that Jennifer L. Armentrout has even written. The trilogy has a perfect journey of ups and downs and ended on such a high note.

So, naturally, I get a little nervous about a spin-off.

Zayne was not my favourite at all in The Dark Elements. Frankly, I found him kind of boring. So, going into a new series, knowing he’s going to be the big love interest? It put me off a little. But Jennifer L. Armentrout as this amazing ability to write perfection and exceed all of my expectations. Storm and Fury gave Zayne a chance to revel in the spotlight and breathe away from the comparison of Roth always making him look like vanilla ice cream.

There was also the addition of Trinity, our new protagonist. Again with spin-offs, I tend to like the protagonist less because I have such a loyalty to the original. Say with The Covenant series and The Titan spin-offs… I would lay down my life for Alex but Josie? I couldn’t care less. And again with the Lux series compared to the Origin spin-off… Katy will forever be my BFF and I would just accept Evie.

So, I kind of figured it would be more of the same. I have a huge love for Layla but, in Storm and Fury, I’ve found that I love Trinity just as much. They’re equals in my mind.

JLA brought introduced such strong resolve and confidence in Trinity which I loved. She’s sassy, she’s powerful and she works so hard. What I also particularly lover is how Jen chose to give Trin the same progressive eye disease that Jen has herself. We got a real insight into how this affects Trinity’s life and yet it never defines her as a character- it didn’t overshadow everything else that was amazing about Trin and it wasn’t a major plot point. I love this kind of representation and strength in a character. I’m super excited to see how much further Trinity grows and comes into her powers.

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo | BOOK REVIEW

SHADOW AND BONE 

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I finally started this series and I really enjoyed this book. I think the world is unique and intricate and, while it took some focus and endless references back to the map and list of Grisha types, I got my head around the world.

I think Alina was a good protagonist. Is she going to be a favourite of mine? No. But she was fine. Mal, however, annoyed me at every opportunity. The entire time I was waiting for him to die off so… imagine my disappointment when they actually get together at the end of the book. Let’s hope the arrogant SOB is killed off some time soon.

Then we have the Darkling who… I actually quite liked. Sure, he’s evil and manipulative but he’s the most interesting and complex of all the characters. And the smartest. I can’t resist intellect and moral ambiguity. (It also helped that I was picturing him as Ben Barnes … that made it 100% easier to love him).

There was a cast of side characters and, honestly, they were all pretty forgettable except for Genya (who I loved). I don’t care that she works for the Darkling. Her friendship with Alina was pure and genuine and she was the most friendly and charismatic character in my opinion. (Evidently, I’m totally Team Darkling at this point).

The Rules of Enchantment by Wendy Tardieu | BOOK REVIEW

I was sent a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

★ ★ ★

I didn’t go into this book with overwhelming expectations, but I enjoyed it. The world is interesting and different to other fantasy novels which I really liked, and I thought the premise of the story was easy to follow and well-executed. A lot of world-building is thrown at you and, while some of it went over my head, it didn’t impact my reading experience as I focused more on the motivations of the characters.

I think Kyler and Leith were decent protagonists. They will never be my favourites, but they were entertaining to read. I do wish more time was spent nurturing and growing their relationship as it felt a bit out of nowhere. I wanted more scenes where they shared their vulnerabilities with each other and created a more genuine connection rather than just attraction, though I understand that’s a natural consequence of this genre.