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rschmidt3's reviews
141 reviews
Stay With Me by Jessica Cunsolo, Ava Violet
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Still With Me by Jessica Cunsolo, Ava Violet
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The Stopover by TL Swan
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Anastasia by Sophie Lark
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Beyond the Veil by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Tempt Me by K.A. Tucker
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Break Me by K.A. Tucker
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Teach Me by K.A. Tucker
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Surrender to Me by K.A. Tucker
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What Lies Beyond the Veil by Harper L. Woods
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
What Lies Beyond the Veil was an... interesting book? I felt that the first 40% of the book moved slower than a snail's pace but the last 60% moved faster than the speed of light. The book also holds some identical similarities to other popular books, to the point where it seems like I've already read the book and know what is going to happen... which I did guess correctly.
Let's start with MY PERSONAL dislikes: the world building, characters, and relationship development between characters.
First, the world building seemed to just DRAG on and on for chapters when it came to her homeland and the society she grew up in. While getting a background and a basic understanding of the history of the fae/mortal realm is needed, I felt bored reading the first 25% of the book because it seemed like a way for the author to dump some needed and some useless information on the reader and to advance the plot to where (you can tell) she was most excited about. Everything is confusing. Ironically, while reading pages of detailed descriptions about the environment and how far they've traveled I still had absolutely no concrete picture in my mind of where the characters are or understanding the layout of their map. Instead of being immersed in this world I was extremely bored, confused and trying (much to my dismay) to get to the next part hoping it answers my questions.
From the first page, the MFC (Estrella) was just another replica of every other FMC in the fantasy genre, (i.e. doesn't feel like she belongs/has a place in her world, stronger than what people think she is, 'not like other girls') and our MMC (Calum) is very clearly described as conventionally tall, dark and so attractive that the MFC immediately upon setting her eyes on him wants to tear off his clothes... and did I mention possessive/degrading? Now, I throughly enjoy when MMCs become possessive/protective and jealous while also being adoring and faithful to their love interest... But this dude from the beginning calls her 'Little One' which is just awkward and really creepy to me. Not to mention their first conversation he very clearly vocalized how much he *wanted* her and he repeatedly throughout the story feeds, bathes, and basically treats Estrella like a literal child AND SHE LETS HIM! Yet, I'm supposed to believe that Estrella is a strong and independent woman who has vowed to never let a man treat her like she's less than or just some body and not a human being to the point where she willingly choose death rather than submit and marry an evil lord who killed his own wife?! Not to mention that he tells her that he's been "watching" her grow into the woman she is and has been waiting for her to become old enough so he can marry her like a literal predator!
Throughout out the entire book, the relationship between Estrella and Calum moved WAY too quickly for the time frame we were given. I felt like all the two ever did was either try to get to know each other but close themselves off and start fighting, have Calum gaslight and degrade Estrella by treating her like a child, or they have very descriptive (and not in a good way) sex.
Overall, I don't think I'll be continuing this series as it was really difficult for me to get through the first book. 1.5/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Pacing: 1/5
Language: 2.5
Twists: 0/5
Spice: 3/5
Let's start with MY PERSONAL dislikes: the world building, characters, and relationship development between characters.
First, the world building seemed to just DRAG on and on for chapters when it came to her homeland and the society she grew up in. While getting a background and a basic understanding of the history of the fae/mortal realm is needed, I felt bored reading the first 25% of the book because it seemed like a way for the author to dump some needed and some useless information on the reader and to advance the plot to where (you can tell) she was most excited about. Everything is confusing. Ironically, while reading pages of detailed descriptions about the environment and how far they've traveled I still had absolutely no concrete picture in my mind of where the characters are or understanding the layout of their map. Instead of being immersed in this world I was extremely bored, confused and trying (much to my dismay) to get to the next part hoping it answers my questions.
From the first page, the MFC (Estrella) was just another replica of every other FMC in the fantasy genre, (i.e. doesn't feel like she belongs/has a place in her world, stronger than what people think she is, 'not like other girls') and our MMC (Calum) is very clearly described as conventionally tall, dark and so attractive that the MFC immediately upon setting her eyes on him wants to tear off his clothes... and did I mention possessive/degrading? Now, I throughly enjoy when MMCs become possessive/protective and jealous while also being adoring and faithful to their love interest... But this dude from the beginning calls her 'Little One' which is just awkward and really creepy to me. Not to mention their first conversation he very clearly vocalized how much he *wanted* her and he repeatedly throughout the story feeds, bathes, and basically treats Estrella like a literal child AND SHE LETS HIM! Yet, I'm supposed to believe that Estrella is a strong and independent woman who has vowed to never let a man treat her like she's less than or just some body and not a human being to the point where she willingly choose death rather than submit and marry an evil lord who killed his own wife?! Not to mention that he tells her that he's been "watching" her grow into the woman she is and has been waiting for her to become old enough so he can marry her like a literal predator!
Throughout out the entire book, the relationship between Estrella and Calum moved WAY too quickly for the time frame we were given. I felt like all the two ever did was either try to get to know each other but close themselves off and start fighting, have Calum gaslight and degrade Estrella by treating her like a child, or they have very descriptive (and not in a good way) sex.
Overall, I don't think I'll be continuing this series as it was really difficult for me to get through the first book. 1.5/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Pacing: 1/5
Language: 2.5
Twists: 0/5
Spice: 3/5