I need all these characters to go ahead and grab a therapist because WHEW the trauma and the drama. I’m glad we were able to resolve everything from book one. I’m not happy that Gab is still in the picture showing her behind though. I know book 3 is about a different set of characters, but I’m hoping we get to still see these two because it feels like there’s still more to their story.

The Prodigy, by Shae Sanders

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

This was definitely messy and just like Shae promised, different from her other books. I wasn’t feeling Jakari at all in the beginning, but as he opened up he drew me in. Maliki definitely got caught up. The twist at the end, I didn’t see coming. I knew something was up with his mama, but I didn’t think it was that. This just goes to show you that what’s done in the dark, really does come to light AND parents really do ruin their kids smh.

Content Warnings

Sinful Redemption, by Asia Monique

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adventurous dark emotional relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

<strong>yeah, I need a Luca in my life</strong>

That man, that man, that man! Pure perfection. I loved every minute of his relationship with Galina. Communication was always wide open and the fact that neither of them had to hide from the other? BEAUTIFUL. They truly found their person in one another and now I’m ready to cry. I really do love this series.

The Final Strife, by Saara El-Arifi

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adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Definitely a solid start to an epic fantasy trilogy. I’ll admit to took me awhile to be invested. A lot of this book seems to spend time introducing us to characters and getting us acquainted with them by learning about their personalities and motives. There little hints of action here and there but the last 20%-25% was where the most action happened. The world building was very intriguing and once I really started piecing together where this was headed and making real life parallels, I realized just how well the story was set up.

My only thing was the relationship that eventually developed between Sylah and another character. I didn’t have a problem with it but for most of the book the romantic feelings seemed one sided. So to find out that Sylah felt that way too was a little jarring. I expected the friendship, but not the romance between them. I just think if that’s where Sylah’s feelings were headed, it could’ve been developed/demonstrated a bit better.

All in all, I’ll definitely check out book two once it’s released.

Content Warnings

Goal, by Alexandria House

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emotional funny reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was a cute and funny read. Even with the fun and cute parts, it still felt very heavy at time because of the parental abandonment, miscarriage, mental illness, fatphobia, some self-deprecation due to childhood abandonment, mention of and ptsd as a result of school shooting, and mention of sexual assault/contact between and adult and minor (actual act happens off page but it is mentioned towards the end of the book).

I really loved seeing Black hockey players and Alexandria House’s characters always have me cracking up. Nuri and Maleek definitely had chemistry, a lot more than him and his gf at the beginning of the book. That girl got on my nerves! She could not take a hint. It was great seeing Maleek confront his feelings about his father through getting to know his siblings. As expected, Nuri and Maleek were always out here doing grown folk things lol. My only thing was that at times the pacing felt rushed and it felt like a LOT of trauma crammed into one book. Definitely still enjoyed it though. Just not my fave from her.

Content Warnings

Bash: Wolf Warriors MC, by K. C. Mills

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Bash and Cambri??? Yeah they’re the ones for sure. Little Leigh was so cute, she reminded me of my niece. I don’t have a problem with instalove/attraction so the fact that cambri got caught up immediately and gave no resistance didn’t bother me at all. Bash would’ve had me folding, too (and folded for the matter). Her baby daddy Chevy was TRASH. What he did at the end??? Yeah he’s lucky he’s still breathing. I was disappointed by his sister’s reaction to that too because there was no way to justify what he did and yet that’s exactly what she called herself doing.

Also appreciated the lack of a third act break up. There were rocky moments, but they never quit. Can’t wait to read more about the side characters.

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bookswhitme's reviews 1222 reviews

bookswhitme's reviews
1222 reviews