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ivyreadstoomuch's reviews
113 reviews
The Sinner by Shantel Tessier
2.5
Okay… this one wasn’t as fun as the first book. It was actually dark. It was 600 pages of Elli being brutalized and retraumatized and Easton made it so much worse for her.
I think I could’ve still enjoyed this book for what it was if Elli wasn’t breaking apart the whole time. Unlike the first book, this one felt firmly placed in real life. There were little fantastical elements beyond the secret society aspect. The rest of it felt like a ripped from the headlines SVU episode. Reading about Elli’s life just made me sad. She abused drugs and alcohol, she frequently put herself in high risk situations, she was passively suicidal. It was depressing as fuck to read. The first book was thrilling and exciting, and no real sexual violence happened to the FMC. I cannot say the same for Elli.
I think I could’ve still enjoyed this book for what it was if Elli wasn’t breaking apart the whole time. Unlike the first book, this one felt firmly placed in real life. There were little fantastical elements beyond the secret society aspect. The rest of it felt like a ripped from the headlines SVU episode. Reading about Elli’s life just made me sad. She abused drugs and alcohol, she frequently put herself in high risk situations, she was passively suicidal. It was depressing as fuck to read. The first book was thrilling and exciting, and no real sexual violence happened to the FMC. I cannot say the same for Elli.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Trafficking
The Ritual by Shantel Tessier
4.0
It cannot be overstated how much fun I had reading this book. Yes, it’s billed as a dark college romance, but it wasn’t as dark as I thought it was going to be. Yes, there’s murder on page 7. Yes, it’s about sons of billionaires being gifted sex slaves for no reason. Yes, there’s multiple scenes of torture. But it’s all a bit ridiculous. It’s so removed from real life that it always feels like a fantasy world.
The Devil Is a Marquess by Elisa Braden
That energy didn’t last very long. Where was that Charlotte? Where was the Charlotte whosmeared horse shit on her groom on their wedding day? She immediately falls into a caretaker role when he's detoxing from alcohol and now feels sorry for him the rest of the book. I guess she’s a bigger person than I am. I would’ve sulked for months if my father forced me into marriage. Even if he was a hot marquess.
And Benedict. The devil. He goes through a whole character overhaul but not in the way I wanted. Was he a devil? No, he was just a mean, privileged drunk with a pretty face. I thought this would be a battle of manipulation. Benedict schemingto keep Charlotte in England and Charlotte resisting. Neither puts up much of a fight in making it a real marriage. The only battles here are internal.
3.5
Well. At least they were really hot.
I only have myself to blame for my high expectations of this book. After seeing it recommended every other post on r/HistoricalRomance, I figured I was missing out on something big. What I was left with was a reaffirmation that I am very hard to please when it comes to reformed rakes. Or redemption arcs in general.
From all the reviews about their fiery banter and hotheadedness, I was expecting Charlotte to give as good as she got.
I only have myself to blame for my high expectations of this book. After seeing it recommended every other post on r/HistoricalRomance, I figured I was missing out on something big. What I was left with was a reaffirmation that I am very hard to please when it comes to reformed rakes. Or redemption arcs in general.
From all the reviews about their fiery banter and hotheadedness, I was expecting Charlotte to give as good as she got.
"To her he represented the worst of English society- an entitled lord born to privilege and radiating sardonic boredom. She had not altered her opinion."
That energy didn’t last very long. Where was that Charlotte? Where was the Charlotte who
And Benedict. The devil. He goes through a whole character overhaul but not in the way I wanted. Was he a devil? No, he was just a mean, privileged drunk with a pretty face. I thought this would be a battle of manipulation. Benedict scheming
Despite all their issues, I regret to say they were really hot. They had amazing chemistry and the slow burn nature of their relationship only increased the tension. He was overcome with desire for her but refused to seduce her.
This book didn't captivate me as much as I wanted it to because it skipped over all the juicy parts.We have Charlotte and Ben knowing they're in love by around the 50% mark and then the rest of the book is the miscommunication trope where they both think the other wants to leave. It's a mess. They could've just talked about their feelings.
This book didn't captivate me as much as I wanted it to because it skipped over all the juicy parts.
Forever Starts Tonight by Karla Sorensen
5.0
Ahhh! I loved them! Jax and Poppy's story was simple love story but it was filled with so much angst. The best kind. The well earned kind.
I love the whole Wilder clan; they brought joy and humor in places where Poppy and Jax were too in their feelings and needed some levity. I'm glad Poppy got to hold a meeting where she told them off for treating her like a baby when she was literally pregnant and about to move out on her own. That girl went for what she wanted. She's who romance readers wish they could be; just go out and tell your crush that they should fuck and get the tension over and done with. My hero. And! Her crying to her mom about how when men hold unrequited feelings it's seen as romantic but when she does it, people just pity her and see it as pathetic. Call out the misogyny, Poppy!
Jax’s self restraint was amazing but wow, he would’ve been much happier if he let loose earlier. His mom made me want to scream. His neighbor, Henry, made me cry. He and Poppy together made me happy.
I love the whole Wilder clan; they brought joy and humor in places where Poppy and Jax were too in their feelings and needed some levity. I'm glad Poppy got to hold a meeting where she told them off for treating her like a baby when she was literally pregnant and about to move out on her own. That girl went for what she wanted. She's who romance readers wish they could be; just go out and tell your crush that they should fuck and get the tension over and done with. My hero. And! Her crying to her mom about how when men hold unrequited feelings it's seen as romantic but when she does it, people just pity her and see it as pathetic. Call out the misogyny, Poppy!
Jax’s self restraint was amazing but wow, he would’ve been much happier if he let loose earlier. His mom made me want to scream. His neighbor, Henry, made me cry. He and Poppy together made me happy.
Ruling Sikthand by Victoria Aveline
4.5
I am not exaggerating when I say Sophie and Sikthand are Feyre and Rhysand in space. Both women trapped in a castle but not really, learning how to read a (new) language, learning how to fight, someone keeping the mating bond a secret, vague enemies to lovers, the list goes on.
This was the longest book in the series and I would've loved it to be longer. I just wanted to chill with Sophia and Sikthand. I wanted to see them be in love more. Sikthand was my type of fictional man. It's begrudgingly grumpy. It's men who love the most ridiculous women and just trail after them in a brooding, loving way.
This was the longest book in the series and I would've loved it to be longer. I just wanted to chill with Sophia and Sikthand. I wanted to see them be in love more. Sikthand was my type of fictional man. It's begrudgingly grumpy. It's men who love the most ridiculous women and just trail after them in a brooding, loving way.
Choosing Theo by Victoria Aveline
3.5
You did it. You read your first alien romance and this was a great introduction. It really wasn't that weird to me. It was very similar to fantasy but just set in our universe. Emphasis on universe. Or galaxy. Or bigger than that.