jen1804's reviews
164 reviews
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
4.25
Really enjoyed this read, not quite 5⭐️ worthy but a fab plot and fab characters and I’m excited for the next one.
An interesting fantasy involving vampires and one human, and a ruthless tournament to win the prize of one granted wish by a goddess.
Enemies to friends to lovers to enemies to conflicted feelings!
Decent action throughout and decent plot twists toward the end.
And a lotttt of note-worthy quotes which I captured in my buddy read with Shan 😊.
An interesting fantasy involving vampires and one human, and a ruthless tournament to win the prize of one granted wish by a goddess.
Enemies to friends to lovers to enemies to conflicted feelings!
Decent action throughout and decent plot twists toward the end.
And a lotttt of note-worthy quotes which I captured in my buddy read with Shan 😊.
Death isn’t frightening when weighed against an insignificant existence.
Chapter 4
“I can’t take credit for everything that you’ve become, Oraya. Even if sometimes I wish I could. But if I’m responsible for just one small piece of that, it will have been the greatest accomplishment of my life.”
Vincent, Chapter 32
“Some would call you a dangerous person.”
The corner of his mouth curled. “Not with you.”
Oraya and Raihn, Chapter 32
“Don’t be so quick to throw away your humanity, Oraya,” he said. “You might find you miss it once it’s gone.”
Raihn, Chapter 33
“You don’t think I see how hard you’ve worked to hold onto your humanity? You’re more human than I am, Raihn. You’ve kept every part of it that makes you value the things in this shitty world that no one else here does. You’ve kept the compassion. It doesn’t matter if your blood runs black now. That hasn’t changed you.”
Oraya, Chapter 33
“I’ve lived through some injustices in the last couple of centuries. Seen some fucking travesties. But one of the biggest, Oraya, is that anyone taught you that you should become anything other than exactly what you are.”
Raihn, Chapter 33
“I tested it,” I said. “As long as you stay back here, even at high noon, the light won’t flood into this room. But you can still see the sun in the mirror. It’s… it’s nice in the middle of the day. The sun reflects off the church spires.”
Oraya on setting up a mirror so that Raihn can watch the sun rise and set without getting hurt by the rays🥹, Chapter 36
Offering myself to a starving vampire was more than dangerous. Practically suicide. And yet… I trusted him absolutely.
Chapter 38
Strange, that girls are so often told that the loss of their virginity marks a threshold between girlhood and womanhood, as if it fundamentally alters them in some way. It was not the sex that changed the girl forever. Not the blood that spilled between her thighs that shaped her. The blood that spilled over that marble floor, though… Those are the stains on one’s innocence that never fade.
New Moon Interlude
His eyes softened as they flicked back to me. I really did try not to notice, or care, that they drank me in the same way he drank in sunshine.
Chapter 43
“We have one night, Raihn. And then we die. So you’d better be a fucking amazing lay.”
Lol, Chapter 44
I needed it to hurt more everywhere else, so it hurt less in my heart.
Oraya on having to fight Raihn in the final arena, Chapter 48
“I love you. I loved you from the first moment.”
Vincent, Chapter 52
Raihn was so good at performances. But I didn’t know which one was real anymore. Which version of him was true.
Oraya after Raihn is revealed as the Rishan Heir🥺, Chapter 53
“And when I leave this room, and come back with a priestess, you will marry me. You will do it because I can’t kill you. I tried. I can’t. A world without you would be a dark, depressing place. And I’ve already inflicted enough pain without committing that fucking injustice, too. So let me save you.”
Raihn on marrying Oraya to keep her safe after the Rishan overthrow the Hiaj castle, Chapter 54
“You aren’t my prisoner,” he said. “You’re my queen.”
Chapter 56
“Are you going to kill me Oraya?”
“Not tonight”.
“There she is”.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
3.5
The second half of this book was way better than the first half in my opinion - when things started to slot into place and mysteries began to be revealed. I wanted to keep on reading throughout the second half and the ending made me excited for the next book if it’s about who I think it’s about.
I’m not always sure how I feel about Garber’s writing style, it’s super fast paced which can result in surface level characters who are lacking development, and shallow relationships between the characters so that plot points just don’t pack the punch I want them to.
Overall the last 150 pages definitely upped the score of this book for me.
I’m not always sure how I feel about Garber’s writing style, it’s super fast paced which can result in surface level characters who are lacking development, and shallow relationships between the characters so that plot points just don’t pack the punch I want them to.
Overall the last 150 pages definitely upped the score of this book for me.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I ate this shit up, licked the plate clean, and am officially a Fourth Wing fan.
I love our FMC. She is strong minded, smart, feisty, and good hearted at her core. And she works hard!
I love the dynamic between her and the MMC.
I loved the cliffhanger ending.
Honestly this book was just sooo good and everything I love all rolled into one beautiful story and I cannot WAIT for the next book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My reactions whilst reading:
A girl after our own heart, told she can only carry so much luggage - immediately prioritises books.
She traded boots with Rhiannon, what a beautiful soul.
Also storms, storms are her mum’s signet, is this suss or coincidence?
Oh hello dark, brooding “I want you dead” character. Future love interest👀👀👀.
Had to google what a parapet looks like and the fan art was great.
This is going to be ruthless.
Jack Barlowe is a twat. And a liability oh Jesus.
I’m really loving this book! I just want to keep reading past my bed time!
Saaaaad about Brennan the brother.
Violet is impressive and is making all this shit work despite her weaknesses.
Love that she stuck up for the lil golden.
Can’t believe Violet has bonded two dragons, how mega. ADORE the relic that’s imprinted on her back of the two of them, how cute. And obsessed with her and Tairn’s mind talking back and forth.
Loving the tension between her and Xaden! I’m living for their scenes where they’re doing nothing but sarcastically talking to one another hah! And now they each have mated dragons?! Hahahh!
Enjoying the fact that gay relations, non binary people, chronic pain, and sign language are all subtly described without it being in your face like look at me representing these minorities. Yes to inclusion being standard!
That poor guy who can read thoughts. Jeez this book is so fucking brutal.
Oooh Andarna can stop time?!
Oof Xaden killing all 6 of those unbonded cadets in seconds. Ruthless. Also confused, can he read her thoughts like Tairn can? Idk yet.
Xaden knows his way around a corset😅.
“Climb the man like a tree”.
Andarna is a BABY! I am obsessed with this lil trio of dragons, Xaden, & Violet dynamic like a lil dysfunctional family. And Tairn (and Sgaeyl) being all parenty with Andarna is so cute.
Dain is a twat.
Respect to Xaden for publicly calling out that Amber chick. Sad for her dragon though, felt that heartbreak.
Topless sparring is always a win.
Lol at Rhiannon and Vi objectifying the men and enjoying it.
Yes to Xaden putting Dain in his place pls n thnks.
Omg their kissssssssss and the LEAD UP to the kiss whilst she’s experiencing Tairn’s lust. And him teaching her to shield and him calling her ‘astonishing’!!! I v much enjoyed that scene. Low-key weird tho about the whole dragon sex feelings felt through the bond thing lol.
Far too much time is passing without details of Xaden and Violet interacting for my likening, more of their content pls.
The sparring on the mat!
Obsessed with Xaden and Violet mind talking to each other.
Obsessed with the fact Xaden wants Violet just as much as she wants him.
Obsessed with the fact Violet is a Lightning Wielder AND can stop time, yessss Queen, powerful af.
I’m glad Jack is dead. Fingers crossed she doesn’t get penalised for killing him.
YES to Xaden being in touch with his emotions and understanding the complexities of grief and being a human being, and telling Violet that she is *allowed* to feel however she feels, telling her that her emotions are *valid*, that she is powerful and reminding her that she can use that power to *save* lives, not just end them. I stan this man!
Aghhhhh their powers during sex, gosh, explosive. It’s like they’re made for one another what with his shadows extinguishing her carnage.
STOP he left her a jar of VIOLETS.
Obsessed with Violet owning her feelings and being up front with Xaden and telling him he can’t have part of her without admitting he has feelings too. Yes girl, tell him how it is.
Audible lol at Xaden accidentally bringing their mind argument into verbal in front of all of battle brief!
The parapet scene followed by her taking him to his room to take care of him on this difficult day 👌👌👌👌.
It is refreshing to read about a woman telling a man she loves him first and despite him not being ready to say it back yet she is more than comfortable in her feelings to be totally okay with him taking as long as he needs instead of getting uppity about it.
Tairn is so funny the way he keeps standing where Dain’s dragon should be haha!
OMG Andarna can now ATTACH to Tairn’s harness, ugh so cute and thoughtful, Xaden!
Nooooo. I hate that they all lied to her by omission, it’s so sad and she must feel so betrayed, even fucking Tairn. But I also understand WHY they kept it from her. Apart from what is Andarna’s reasoning lol, she ain’t mated to Sgaeyl.
Violet’s dad knew exactly what he was doing and he was SMART. Omg Lilith totally offed Violet’s dad didn’t she?! I feel like she did. She a bad and corrupt woman who is willing to kill her own family.
Dain and Xaden are giving Tamlin and Rhys vibes. Dain is a prick.
Fuck off, Dain has been reading her thoughts this whole time. Every time he touched her face I’ve been thinking ‘oop careful Vi he’s probs violating your mind’ and I was fucking right. And then he just said to her “I’ll miss you” knowing she’s off to her death basically.
Fuck me these venin are powerful fuckers.
Liam😢😢😢😢😢.
Andarna saving Violet❤️.
“Loved” in the past tense urghhhh my heart. He never said it back because he knew he was keeping so much from her. But he feels it, he does!
Omg that ending. Goosebumps! Viva la revolution!
I love our FMC. She is strong minded, smart, feisty, and good hearted at her core. And she works hard!
I love the dynamic between her and the MMC.
I loved the cliffhanger ending.
Honestly this book was just sooo good and everything I love all rolled into one beautiful story and I cannot WAIT for the next book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My reactions whilst reading:
Spoiler
Don’t really like her mum. But adore Mira already.A girl after our own heart, told she can only carry so much luggage - immediately prioritises books.
She traded boots with Rhiannon, what a beautiful soul.
Also storms, storms are her mum’s signet, is this suss or coincidence?
Oh hello dark, brooding “I want you dead” character. Future love interest👀👀👀.
Had to google what a parapet looks like and the fan art was great.
This is going to be ruthless.
Jack Barlowe is a twat. And a liability oh Jesus.
I’m really loving this book! I just want to keep reading past my bed time!
Saaaaad about Brennan the brother.
Violet is impressive and is making all this shit work despite her weaknesses.
Love that she stuck up for the lil golden.
Can’t believe Violet has bonded two dragons, how mega. ADORE the relic that’s imprinted on her back of the two of them, how cute. And obsessed with her and Tairn’s mind talking back and forth.
Loving the tension between her and Xaden! I’m living for their scenes where they’re doing nothing but sarcastically talking to one another hah! And now they each have mated dragons?! Hahahh!
Enjoying the fact that gay relations, non binary people, chronic pain, and sign language are all subtly described without it being in your face like look at me representing these minorities. Yes to inclusion being standard!
That poor guy who can read thoughts. Jeez this book is so fucking brutal.
Oooh Andarna can stop time?!
Oof Xaden killing all 6 of those unbonded cadets in seconds. Ruthless. Also confused, can he read her thoughts like Tairn can? Idk yet.
Xaden knows his way around a corset😅.
“Climb the man like a tree”.
Andarna is a BABY! I am obsessed with this lil trio of dragons, Xaden, & Violet dynamic like a lil dysfunctional family. And Tairn (and Sgaeyl) being all parenty with Andarna is so cute.
Dain is a twat.
Respect to Xaden for publicly calling out that Amber chick. Sad for her dragon though, felt that heartbreak.
Topless sparring is always a win.
Lol at Rhiannon and Vi objectifying the men and enjoying it.
Yes to Xaden putting Dain in his place pls n thnks.
Omg their kissssssssss and the LEAD UP to the kiss whilst she’s experiencing Tairn’s lust. And him teaching her to shield and him calling her ‘astonishing’!!! I v much enjoyed that scene. Low-key weird tho about the whole dragon sex feelings felt through the bond thing lol.
Far too much time is passing without details of Xaden and Violet interacting for my likening, more of their content pls.
The sparring on the mat!
Obsessed with Xaden and Violet mind talking to each other.
Obsessed with the fact Xaden wants Violet just as much as she wants him.
Obsessed with the fact Violet is a Lightning Wielder AND can stop time, yessss Queen, powerful af.
I’m glad Jack is dead. Fingers crossed she doesn’t get penalised for killing him.
YES to Xaden being in touch with his emotions and understanding the complexities of grief and being a human being, and telling Violet that she is *allowed* to feel however she feels, telling her that her emotions are *valid*, that she is powerful and reminding her that she can use that power to *save* lives, not just end them. I stan this man!
Aghhhhh their powers during sex, gosh, explosive. It’s like they’re made for one another what with his shadows extinguishing her carnage.
STOP he left her a jar of VIOLETS.
Obsessed with Violet owning her feelings and being up front with Xaden and telling him he can’t have part of her without admitting he has feelings too. Yes girl, tell him how it is.
Audible lol at Xaden accidentally bringing their mind argument into verbal in front of all of battle brief!
The parapet scene followed by her taking him to his room to take care of him on this difficult day 👌👌👌👌.
It is refreshing to read about a woman telling a man she loves him first and despite him not being ready to say it back yet she is more than comfortable in her feelings to be totally okay with him taking as long as he needs instead of getting uppity about it.
Tairn is so funny the way he keeps standing where Dain’s dragon should be haha!
OMG Andarna can now ATTACH to Tairn’s harness, ugh so cute and thoughtful, Xaden!
Nooooo. I hate that they all lied to her by omission, it’s so sad and she must feel so betrayed, even fucking Tairn. But I also understand WHY they kept it from her. Apart from what is Andarna’s reasoning lol, she ain’t mated to Sgaeyl.
Violet’s dad knew exactly what he was doing and he was SMART. Omg Lilith totally offed Violet’s dad didn’t she?! I feel like she did. She a bad and corrupt woman who is willing to kill her own family.
Dain and Xaden are giving Tamlin and Rhys vibes. Dain is a prick.
Fuck off, Dain has been reading her thoughts this whole time. Every time he touched her face I’ve been thinking ‘oop careful Vi he’s probs violating your mind’ and I was fucking right. And then he just said to her “I’ll miss you” knowing she’s off to her death basically.
Fuck me these venin are powerful fuckers.
Liam😢😢😢😢😢.
Andarna saving Violet❤️.
“Loved” in the past tense urghhhh my heart. He never said it back because he knew he was keeping so much from her. But he feels it, he does!
Omg that ending. Goosebumps! Viva la revolution!
The Power by Naomi Alderman
1.0
Interesting concept, not executed well.
Hated the writing.
The whole thing felt so disjointed and confusing.
Won’t be reading anymore from Naomi Alderman.
Hated the writing.
The whole thing felt so disjointed and confusing.
Won’t be reading anymore from Naomi Alderman.
All of Us Villains by C.L. Herman, Amanda Foody
4.5
Loved this book, had me in a chokehold from start to finish.
Hated the ending and have pre-ordered the sequel from Amazon so that I have it immediately upon release.
Hated the ending and have pre-ordered the sequel from Amazon so that I have it immediately upon release.