ridreads's reviews
96 reviews

Sign Here by A. E. Boss

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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 roller coaster ride of ups and downs, hilarity and heart break. Asher goes from barely getting her life back to the worst night of her life to the most herself she’s felt in years back to her worst nightmares come to life and clawing herself back from the brink. 

The four men who save Asher are unlike any she’s ever known. Daniel, Carson, Andrew, and Nathan are the closest thing she’s had to a home in a long time despite the interesting beginning to their relationship they all soon find themselves much, much deeper than they ever could have expected. 

I really enjoyed the unique plot of this book, when I first started I was a little hesitant at the length, but every chapter and character perspective was truly necessary to tell the story. This story and relationship dynamic was really unique with all 5 main characters involved in varying romantic and sexual relationships with each other. The only thing I would’ve liked to see more of is more detailed descriptions of the appearances of each of the main characters, I don’t feel like I truly could picture each person in my head as clearly as I would’ve liked. 

Waiting for the Pieces by Taylor Wilson-West

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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? No

5.0

Whoa! This story really started out with me on the edge of my seat with Fern’s whole life getting turned upside down. Then jumping to 2 years later when Fern finally feels like things are starting to get better, she gets thrust back into her hometown with a bombshell or 2 dropped into her lap. 

The killer who had his eyes on her 2 years ago is still after her. No one she loves is safe and bodies are turning up everywhere as her childhood crush (and brother’s best friend) leaves no stone unturned to find the killer who has Fern in his crosshairs. 

With the perfect amount of suspense, a dash of murder, and more than a little spice this book was a quick read with several popular tropes from both the dark romance and thriller genres. If you like mafia vibes, morally grey men, marriages of convenience, and a MMC who will tear the whole world apart if you touch his girl then you will love this book! 

Feral Obsessions by Emily Klepp

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? No

4.0

I really enjoyed this dark, contemporary Goldilocks retelling. The beginning of the story is really heart wrenching with Anya needing to escape her abusive boyfriend and his friends. 

After learning of an inheritance from a relative back home, she finds herself with a reason to run. Anya runs away across the country to escape and finds herself faced with three burly, grumpy men who feel like she took what was rightfully hers. 

A journey of healing and falling in love culminates in a final showdown when her past comes back to haunt her. This is an incredibly heavy story with heavy triggers, be sure to review the trigger warnings prior to reading!

Among the Hunted by Caytlyn Brooke

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

Three nymph sisters battle against vengeful gods to take back their lives and their freedom. Caytlyn Brooke created an incredible world for a unique spin on classic Greek mythology. 

A dark and twisted tale that deals with extremely graphic and horrifying misdeeds perpetrated by Gods against nymphs to steal their magic and their lives. 

If you love dark, fantasy romance then you absolutely need to read this book! I can’t wait to read the next book as the ending leaves a lot of questions about what’s in store for Kait, her sisters, and the mortals whose fates are all entwined. 

Dark Hearts: A Dark Fantasy Taboo Novella Colletion by Emily Klepp

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I am rating this as a 4 because I really enjoyed some of these stories, but some of them fell kind of flat. There were several that I would love to see developed into more robust stories. I’ve never read fantasy by Emily before, so I did really like reading something new and think she came up with some really interesting fantasy worlds/ideas.

The Elflaine Chronicles: Ballad of Dawn by Haley Hamilton

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• 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

I’ll be completely honest in that it took me several chapters to really get fully absorbed into the book, but as soon as Callum showed up I was SUCKED in. 

The story and world building is very beautifully done. All of the lore, stories, and ballads were very well written and thoughtful. I typically have a hard time with reading stories written in third person, but the development of the main characters is strong and their motivations and personalities are very clear. 

For a debut novel, this was a truly incredible read. I can’t wait to see what comes next for Ailia, Reed, and Callum! 

Sweet Temptation by Danika Rose Lynn

emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is, without a doubt, the absolute cutest romance I have ever read. I read it all as fast as I possibly could, actually groaning anytime I had to put my Kindle down to do something. It gave me Sweet Magnolias vibes in ALL the best ways! 

Although it’s a short, quick read Danika does an amazing job with the perfect amount of storytelling. We get the perfect glimpse into Ellery and Beckham’s past, what kept them apart, and how Ellery’s return to Sweetbriar was inevitably going to lead to their coming together. 

The perfect amount of sweet and spicy, you will not regret giving this grumpy x sunshine story a read! Actually… maybe you will… because you’ll be desperate for more stories about our favorite Sweetbriar side characters! 

Endless Devotion by Emily Klepp

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

4.0

The continuation of Sadie’s story from Reverse Perspective picks up 1 year later and once again the past has come back to haunt her. Will she and the ones she love make it out alive? 

Hooooly cow! This was a roller coaster ride right from the start. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, something new got thrown at me! 

I normally really like the trope, but the (surprise) pregnancy threw me off a little bit since it just seemed really out of character for the FMC. Other than that, I really liked the story and thought the ending tied everything up nicely. 

Reverse perspective by Emily Klepp

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Mason, Lance, and Dean finally admit that they have feelings for their best friend of 20 years, and business partner, Sadie. When angry exes team up to out their new relationship to the whole world, it brings a monster from Sadie’s past back into her life. 

I really enjoyed the story of Sadie finally getting revenge against her abuser. The characters are well written and developed well, including the side characters (Stacy and Todd are my favorites!). 

There was one tiny thing that felt like it didn’t fit within the story that didn’t feel like it fit with things we learned later, which is the reason I didn’t rate this 5 stars. I doubt very many other people will catch it though since it’s so small! 

Play with me A splatterpunk dark romance by Emily Klepp

dark emotional tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

This was my first splatterpunk romance. I went it without reading the triggers (probably you should not be like me) and didn’t really know what to expect. 

Holy cow! It was dark, depraved, and disgusting! The storyline was really interesting and the characters were really well developed. 

I really liked Mildred and how she supported Lila. The addition of Daniel and Allison was also really good and added a unique dynamic. 

If you like stories of blood and guts, stalker vibes, and vigilante justice then this story is for you!