reka111's reviews
214 reviews

Please Love Me at My Worst by Michaela Angemeer

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing

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

3.0

You need healing on your own, stop trying to break me too.

It went for one.

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Go to review page

emotional funny informative inspiring sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

Love's about finding the one person who makes your heart complete. Who makes you a better person than you ever dreamed you could be.

Honestly, I have a kind of hate-love relationship with this book, and I still loved every minute of it. I didn't start because the series or crowd worship pulled me in, but because I just needed a good enemies to lovers/hate to love book and I had this at hand.

Kate was arguably my favorite in the book, I really liked that there was so much fire in her, and she wasn't afraid to speak her mind, she was confident and courageous. Her trauma is just so sad, I wanted to hug her every time and tell her everything is alright, it is just a storm.

Anthony often annoyed me with his...well, let's say interesting, utterances, even though I thought I would bow down to him. However he developed during the book and did him a lot of good, by the end I began to see in him the light and the balance he really needed.

I loved the others very much; Edwina was all cheerful and kind, Colin always made me laugh and I'm infinitely grateful to him, I haven't smiled so much in a long time. Violet and Mary are so perfect as mothers, I love their dynamic with their kids, it just looks like they could jump into a volcano if that means they can protected them.

I wouldn't necessarily label a love story as enemies to lovers, but rather hate to love. However it was, I really liked the relationship between them, as the burning dislike eventually turns into desire and passion. Both have lost an awful lot and deserve happiness and peace in the embrace of a loving family. I loved their little sweet moments together.

The plot flowed nicely, the scenes matched well, were understandable and easy to follow, there were some strange moments (for example, the behavior of the animals - Newton (my heart) - is terribly far from reality) that I couldn't really absorb. The time jumps were not distracting and the pace was adequate. The ending was nicely closed (I'm especially glad we got some confirmation at the end, and it may seem terribly small, but to me that tiny sentence meant the world)

Content Warnings

Bane of the Witch by J. Todd Kingrea

Go to review page

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.0

After all, if we don’t learn from our history, then we’re fools.

Date: 2024/05/9-2024/05/14

Genre: Fantasy, Dystopian

Rating: ★★★★

Spice rating: —

Age rating (I think): 16+

TIGGER WARNINGS: murder, blood, death, profanity, injury, hallucinations, child abuse (mentioned), rape (mentioned), torture

Thank you for the ARC e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

First, what you can expect from this book:

· good vs evil

· tragical

· multiple POV

· witches & magic

· medium-paced

· strong FMC

· mystical creatures

· animal companion

· found family

PRELIMINARY:

I just feel so much right now that they can't even scream, I want to cry and howl until nothing remains of me. I think I'm somewhere between three right now. This book has been a huge emotional rollercoaster, and this book series is a huge journey that we have come to an end.

I'm so full and I feel so empty at the same time. Saying goodbye to such a wonderful world is terribly difficult for me. It had its own ups and downs, and as much as it hurts me to say it out loud, it took part of my soul with it.

Of course, Teska tower high is my favorite, I still love her nature, which is fiery and indomitable, like forest fire.

ATTENTION SPOILER (if you haven't read the book, scroll down at your own risk)

THORNE

I felt him so lost and disbelieving, as if (and indeed it was) he had lost the flame burning inside him when Teska disappeared from his life.

He's developed so incredibly much character that you could write essays about because, to be honest, who could do what he did? One day he persecuted witches and heretics, governed and was comfortable, and the next day he was given a sword and asked to be a leader.

However good he was as a quarterback this time, more than once they got away with a lot of things with his right strategic sense and foresight.

By the end of the book, he was exhausted, and everyone felt it, he had to fight many more battles than he was meant to fight. I hope dreadfully that he will find peace and purpose in the West that will bring him healing for good, because he deserves it terribly.

TESKA

My Teska, my sweet Ghost has been through so unrealistically that I can't tell you. She deserved so much, so much, better than that.

It was horrible to know that she was stuck in her own body like a parasite and reliving the horrors of her childhood, my heart broke for her. Then she had to survive ten years in literal hell and pretend everything was fine anyway.

She was strong all along and brave enough to be superhuman. She persistently searched for a way out, a way back to her friends, to save them before it was too late, and her self-sacrifice and loyalty to them were impressive.

I don't know if she didn't get crushed by what happened to her, that dhe could still live and move on, but whatever drives her, I really hope it never leaves her because I'm afraid if she stops she will be broken. She deserves peace, happiness and tranquility more than anyone else.

THE OTHERS

Warner, the last man standing. It may seem funny, but he's actually the only supporting character who survived the ordeal throughout the books and was still able to fight. He has so much power and, of course, infinite loyalty to his friends that it's incredible. He never gave up hope, he always saw the light, and even though his funny self was starting to fade after all the trauma, he still had a few voices that made me laugh. He, too, deserves the rest (and career) that awaits him and a long life full of peace and tranquility. I'm sorry he was left alone in the end, but I know he will find his place. He always does.

Hawkes & Tua, gods, I already lost too much, it broke my heart even more. I can't believe they both left as if they never existed. They have contributed so much, have been faithful friends and assistants all along, but I know they are now in a better place where there is no more suffering.

Jarkko & Madia gave so much and asked for so little. I loved their dynamic and how open they were to Thorne and the others. They both did what needed to be done, and maybe that was what saved their entire world.

LOVE STORY

Oh, my darlings suffered so much (they literally went to death and hell because of each other), and even when everything seemed lost, all that mattered was that the other was safe.

There is such understanding and patience between them that it is insane. But really. Both try their best to protect and help each other wherever they can I'm literally sobbing over them. They did not deserved this.

They've been through too much, and I'm afraid a small part of them will always be broken, an incurable wound, but they're there for each other. They will survive. Together.

THE PLOT PACE/CONCEPT/ETC

The plot, like the previous one, was full of action and twists that made the whole thing really agile. I have to say overall it was understandable, but there were parts where I was a bit confused for a few moments.

I think the pace was quite fast, everything was always moving and something was always happening, so that's understandable. Although I wanted a break in the middle of the story where it slows down, I'm not complaining.

Time jumps (especially for Teska) I thought were a lot in some places. Although we didn't basically jump more than days or weeks, in most cases I wouldn't have needed it in my opinion.

The wording was still wonderful, I liked the rich descriptions of detail and how much emphasis it put on describing the environment. That's how every other author should write. He doesn't just throw letters side by side, he gives them real meaning and I think that's the key for an excellent book.

The world building continued to expand, now stranger empires appeared (aka hell) and we got a glimpse of it as well. The lore was well developed, and I loved that Hecate's name (or the three-faced goddess) is always appeared. The reference to the past and the mixing of cultures add an incredible amount to it.

FINAL WORDS

This book series has been an incredible journey, full of laughter, sorrow, but most of all, hope. Part of my soul will forever remain in the infinite and incredible world of Deiparia in anticipation of new adventures.

RECOMMENDATION

ONCE AGAIN;

I definitely recommend reading it, because it guides you to a world where magic and monsters come to life, friendships are made and run away, secrets come to the destructive surface and dreams turn to dust. First of all, fantasy fans may like this book, but I strongly recommend it to anyone, because it is not worth missing.

Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.

Mehh the wording is awful.

One True King by Soman Chainani

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Past is Present and Present is Past. The story goes round and round again.

I honestly don't know what to write, it's been a huge journey that I started as a kid and finished as an adult. This reading took years (mostly because I DNF the last two books), but like everything else, I had to give it time. I'm so glad (and it hurts terribly) that I have to end this series now.

Agatha has improved tremendously and gone through so much to be there at the end, but I feel like all the suffering, tears and blood were worth it because she could become the queen Camelot needs. Tedros, my brave and endlessly persistent Tedros, suffered so much because of two fraudsters, his father, his mother and the forest. Even when everything and everyone (except his friends) turned against him, he kept fighting and going, believing in the future, and I can't tell you how much, but how much he deserves rest. Sophie's character development is probably one of the most admirable in the entire series, she can be 100% evil, she may not always play fairly, she may have a bit of darkness, but she knows what's right and trusts her friends for whom she will go to the end of the world if necessary. The other characters have grown close to my heart,

all those deaths have taken a toll on my soul, and I can't believe that more than half of the characters I met in the first half of the series have disappeared

. Either way, witches are the corners of my heart and my favorites who can't do anything wrong in my eyes.

Agatha and Tedros' love, relationship and trust grew tremendously over the course of the book series. At last it was clear that they sincerely believed in each other, helping and protecting each other. I loved their little lovely scenes.

The plot was a bit confusing to me, mostly due to the fact that we were bouncing back and forth in time in one space the whole time. Basically, I liked it and would love to read more about this world because gods the world building is something amazing. It was full of secrets, twists and action, I liked it so much. There were some really funny parts about it, like, Merlin as a baby,

which still makes me cry because he thought Agatha was his mom and loved her so much, it was incredibly cute.

The pace was good in my opinion, although I didn't really like that so much POV appeared that I didn't even know where my head was. The ending was beautiful, so I definitely want to return to this world because it's so unique and magical that it makes me feel like a child again.

A Crystal of Time by Soman Chainani

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Some bonds are too deep for others to ever understand.

Huh I have no idea if I want to scream, cry, howl, sob or laugh right now. The book was an emotional rollercoaster ride in the truest sense of the word, too many times I fell into grief and then a ray of hope caught me to be able to think anything sensibly now. My Tedros deserves so much better than this, so much, so much better. My Agatha and Sophie gave me the world, they both fought so hard, sacrificed so much, it's incredible and they still have so much to do. The turn of events sent my jaw to the floor and now I don't even know what to do with myself.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Go to review page

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

Quests for Glory by Soman Chainani

Go to review page

adventurous challenging inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

If there's one thing I've learned in my long life, it's that every villain thinks they're the hero of their own story.

I feel burning hatred for Rhian that's for sure. I don't remember much of the book, but something "snake" remained, small flashes and parts, but not much. Tedros and Agatha's case could have been solved smoothly with a little talk, but talking is obviously for the weak lol so the miscommunating trope works. The end knocked me off my chair, the commissioner, and my jaw is still on the floor.

A World Without Princes by Soman Chainani

Go to review page

adventurous informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

It's the problem with fairy tales. From far away, they seem so perfect. But up close, they're just as complicated as real life.

I definitely didn't like this book as much as the previous one or the next. Anyway, I suffered through it, because the boy-girl dichotomy is still interesting, especially in a book like this.

Sweet Inferno by Elliott Rose

Go to review page

0.5