The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
kimwritesstuff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was a fantastic late-night read. I read this clutching my pearls and my glass of wine. I had a few gasps and giggles as I read this. Was it a little on the nose? Sure, but the thing I loved about the author is how self-aware she was. This book knows what it is and leans into it. It's a fast-paced romance fantasy novel with terrible names. I mean, Cinnamon Hotpepper is a ridiculous name, but that made me love it even more.
Cinnamon, or Cin for short, is in her mid-twenties and lives on her family's cinnamon farm. She gets drunk at a local party celebrating the departure of the goddess's chosen hero. On her way home, she is almost mugged by a local ruffian. Instead, Cin turns the tables by throwing apples at him and chasing him through the trees. When she pauses to continue the chase, she hears a person who is trapped under a nearby landslide. When she rescues the stranger, it turns out to be a demon. She runs for her life and makes it safely home, but not before beating the demon with a cinnamon branch.
In the morning, said demon intrudes on family breakfast. It turns out that the cinnamon she hit him with broke him from a spell and that the goddess all humans worship isn't a goddess at all, but an evil witch. Fallon, the rescued demon, asks Cinnamon to join him in destroying the witch. Of course, she goes and what ensues is a fun sexy romp in taking down the evil witch.
Seriously, this was a fun book. I could not put it down. The only reason it wasn't a 5-star read for me is because I really didn't like the names. Again, Cinnamon Hotpepper? It just pulled me right out of it. There were also a few times the book could have benefited from heavier editing. A few times, sentences ran into others and it jumbled the structure. I had to go back and read things a few times.
Favorite scene? Without spoiling, it was when Cinnamon, who is naked in a river with a demon, spins and kills a crocodile. HOT AF.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC!
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, and Sexual content
onegalonelife27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Slavery, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming and Sexual assault
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The whole story unfolds like a fan-fiction style rendering of someone's role-playing campaign. I feel like scribbled in the corner of the character notes for the protagonist reads: Cinnamon likes to get drunk, and when inebriated will get cravings for cheese.
It's an entertaining book about a girl who just wants a quiet life, who quests to destroy 4 artefacts of power to bring down an evil nasty, while collecting about her a team of hot and capable companions.. one of whom wants to seduce her into a life-bond, so they can boff happily ever after.
Entertaining.. but not world moving.
Graphic: Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cursing, Racism, Sexual content, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Slavery, Alcohol, and Bullying
kelleykamanda's review against another edition
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, Blood, Death, and Sexual content
torrentsofhayl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault and Vomit
ladyzbyrd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, and Cursing
lunafaereadz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Violence, and Murder
indieandajean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Vomit, Grief, Sexual harassment, Gore, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Child death, War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, and Death
jennaxbakos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Slavery, Child death, Death, and Fatphobia
the_readingraven's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This story follows our female main character Cinnamon, as she is heading home after a fun night of drinking. She literally saves a demon while she's drunk, lmao. The demon in question is our male main character, Fallon. After being saved, he forces Cin to go on a quest with him to kill the evil witch that has enslaved and tranced the demons of the land. Cin tags along for an adventure full of new friends, new demons, and new obstacles she has to face. Yes, one of those obstacles is Fallon's d!ck. š Their scenes together are sooo hot, Fallon is a dream come true and Cinnamon is eventually down for the ride. I have to give the spice rating a 4š¶ļø/5! Honestly, I thought this book was a great balance of spice and adventure/plot. I will definitely be reading the 2nd book in the series, as well as the novellas!
Minor: Sexual harassment, Murder, Blood, Slavery, and Cursing