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millenialglowworm's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy shit!! I’m screaming. I’ll need to come back to give a full review but READ THIS BOOK. We live in a time where people may feel vampires are overdone in fantasy books but THIS is unique in so many ways. Ugh it was devastatingly AMAZING. I am already impatient I have to wait for the second one.
More thoughts..
This is a fast paced and exciting paranormal romance. I was eager to see how everything would unfold and how Gwyn would ultimately solve her predicament. The slow burn was torture but delicious. Some people have said the world building is minimal, but I know more will come in that area in the second book. For me as a reader, I don't need a ton of background information for the story to work and actually prefer more plot and character interaction than background info. I love that Gwyn is plus sized, and not the "curves in all the right places and flat tummy" plus sized. She is shaped in a more realistic way. The author does a good job of not making the character's size a focal point in the book and it comes off as normal. Did I mention the spice?? It is HOT.
The dialogue is hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud at the things the characters said through out the book.
Some of my favorites:
"Do you thinks he had this idea pinned to her "Live. Laugh. Love." Inspiration Board?"
"Well, you look lie what would happen if Zeus fucked a motorcycle-which he totally would, by the way"
"Someone committing way too hard to a Twilight cosplay"
"You kidnapped me but asked for no pickle on my burger? What the fuck?"
There was a hilarious quip about the name ending with "ien" like Jaiden, Aiden, Caiden. That was especially appreciated for it comic relief.
Then, Jess offered up some amazing quotes about life in general, including
"Its a special kind of hell for wants and needs to align, because then the lines blur and you don't know how genuine either feeling is"
"Grief is a series of what-ifs, and with time, all you can hope for is that you wonder less"
"I know now that he is different than other men, but different doesn't mean better"
"Men are the world's most proficient gatekeepers."
"now I wonder who decided ranking your friends in order of importance is normal-expected" (talking about wedding parties).
Then there are the SPICY scenes which had many many quotable lines as well:
" I want to taste the sounds you make when you come. That alright with you?"
"I watch his forearm flex as he shifts, and fuck, if I'm not wet just watching" This was relatable lol.
"but the silver lines on her sides still stand out in this lighting. It reminds me of a type of Japanese art I’d seen while scrolling online. Kintsugi. The acceptance of imperfections; it involves broken pieces of pottery rebuilt with gold to mend the seams, only enhancing its original beauty. I would"
SOOOO. READ THIS BOOK!!!!
More thoughts..
This is a fast paced and exciting paranormal romance. I was eager to see how everything would unfold and how Gwyn would ultimately solve her predicament. The slow burn was torture but delicious. Some people have said the world building is minimal, but I know more will come in that area in the second book. For me as a reader, I don't need a ton of background information for the story to work and actually prefer more plot and character interaction than background info. I love that Gwyn is plus sized, and not the "curves in all the right places and flat tummy" plus sized. She is shaped in a more realistic way. The author does a good job of not making the character's size a focal point in the book and it comes off as normal. Did I mention the spice?? It is HOT.
The dialogue is hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud at the things the characters said through out the book.
Some of my favorites:
"Do you thinks he had this idea pinned to her "Live. Laugh. Love." Inspiration Board?"
"Well, you look lie what would happen if Zeus fucked a motorcycle-which he totally would, by the way"
"Someone committing way too hard to a Twilight cosplay"
"You kidnapped me but asked for no pickle on my burger? What the fuck?"
There was a hilarious quip about the name ending with "ien" like Jaiden, Aiden, Caiden. That was especially appreciated for it comic relief.
Then, Jess offered up some amazing quotes about life in general, including
"Its a special kind of hell for wants and needs to align, because then the lines blur and you don't know how genuine either feeling is"
"Grief is a series of what-ifs, and with time, all you can hope for is that you wonder less"
"I know now that he is different than other men, but different doesn't mean better"
"Men are the world's most proficient gatekeepers."
"now I wonder who decided ranking your friends in order of importance is normal-expected" (talking about wedding parties).
Then there are the SPICY scenes which had many many quotable lines as well:
" I want to taste the sounds you make when you come. That alright with you?"
"I watch his forearm flex as he shifts, and fuck, if I'm not wet just watching" This was relatable lol.
"but the silver lines on her sides still stand out in this lighting. It reminds me of a type of Japanese art I’d seen while scrolling online. Kintsugi. The acceptance of imperfections; it involves broken pieces of pottery rebuilt with gold to mend the seams, only enhancing its original beauty. I would"
SOOOO. READ THIS BOOK!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Self harm, and Murder
noellelovesbooks's review
3.5
Content Warnings: Sexual content, blood, gore, body horror, kidnapping, suicidal ideations, grief, forced captivity, loss of body autonomy, death of loved ones, and depression.
Mention of: cheating, toxic relationships, fatphobia, weight fetishization, toxic friendships, forced breeding, child abuse, torture, miscarriage, and substance abuse.
Do you ever meet someone and find them really frustrating and annoying? And then when you start to really think about the reasons they irritate you...its because they're so similar to you mentally/emotionally? 😅 That was both Gwyn and Roman for me 🫣
Gwyn and Roman have both have had a rough life, dealt with loss from a young age, and have each had battles with mental health. For every step they take forward in opening up to each other, or even just being honest with themselves...they manage to sabotage themselves and take two steps back.
There were so many moments this book had me cheering for them and excited for them...and then there were those moments I wished I could reach through the pages, smack/shake each of them, and tell them to just be freaking honest with each other [and themselves].
I really enjoyed the lore behind vampires and hunters in this book. There are so many times that it feels like vampire lore is exactly the same recycled story...so it was nice to have some different and surprising elements.
I do wish the first half was a bit shorter so we could learn more in the second half...because a lot is thrown at us the closer we get to the end. I'm very excited to see what book 2 holds, what questions will be answered, and what new things Jess with throw at us 🧐 Her dedication mentions the Klaroline fans...so I'm hopeful to see what twists and turns the next part of Gwyn and Roman's story takes. 💜
Mention of: cheating, toxic relationships, fatphobia, weight fetishization, toxic friendships, forced breeding, child abuse, torture, miscarriage, and substance abuse.
Do you ever meet someone and find them really frustrating and annoying? And then when you start to really think about the reasons they irritate you...its because they're so similar to you mentally/emotionally? 😅 That was both Gwyn and Roman for me 🫣
Gwyn and Roman have both have had a rough life, dealt with loss from a young age, and have each had battles with mental health. For every step they take forward in opening up to each other, or even just being honest with themselves...they manage to sabotage themselves and take two steps back.
There were so many moments this book had me cheering for them and excited for them...and then there were those moments I wished I could reach through the pages, smack/shake each of them, and tell them to just be freaking honest with each other [and themselves].
I really enjoyed the lore behind vampires and hunters in this book. There are so many times that it feels like vampire lore is exactly the same recycled story...so it was nice to have some different and surprising elements.
I do wish the first half was a bit shorter so we could learn more in the second half...because a lot is thrown at us the closer we get to the end. I'm very excited to see what book 2 holds, what questions will be answered, and what new things Jess with throw at us 🧐 Her dedication mentions the Klaroline fans...so I'm hopeful to see what twists and turns the next part of Gwyn and Roman's story takes. 💜
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fatphobia, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, and Car accident
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