Mini Reviews (part six)
Hi everyone!
Here are my next five non-podcast reads of 2022.
I took a small break from Shadowhunters to catch up on some new contemporary rom-com releases. I also finally read a book from my Owlcrate subscription box and started a popular series by a new-to-me author.
My Killer Vacation
Tessa Bailey does it again.
This was such a fun, quick and easy read featuring a grumpy/sunshine romance. I liked both of the main characters, though Taylor always talking about her brother as if he hangs the moon every night was annoying, and Myles going from 'I don't want a relationship' to 'I want to have babies with this woman I have just met' gave me whiplash. I get that there was a deadline because Taylor's vacation was only for a few days but, come on...
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this a lot - it was funny and boy was it steamy.
Rating: 4/5
Stuck With You (The STEMinist Novellas #2)
So, here's the thing - Ali Hazelwood writes funny internal monologue and I think she also writes decent spicy scenes. However, her characters are quickly becoming extremely repetitive. The FMC is always small and quirky, while the MMC is always big and quiet ... and I'm kind of tired of it.
Also, the miscommunication trope in this book was SO obvious and unnecessary that I genuinely threw my e-book reader when it came up.
Rating: 4/5
Only a Monster (Monsters #1)
Oh my gosh - this book was SO good.
I read this as part of a buddy read and went into it with zero expectations and no idea what it would be about (I didn't even know it was the first novel of a trilogy!)... I devoured it in two days!
I had so much fun reading this YA fantasy - my issue a lot of times with this genre (and this is totally my age speaking) is that I find the characters annoying and immature. I didn't feel this way about the characters here. Joan is a monster who wants to be good, Nick is a tortured hero, Aaron is snarky with a troubled past - I loved them all! I thought the pacing was great - so much happens so quickly and so many new elements are added as the story progresses.
I genuinely cannot wait for the next book - I have no idea where the story will go and that is so exciting.
Rating: 5/5
An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes #1)
I thought this was a very strong opening novel to the series.
I liked the dual POVs, the main characters were both well developed and I was rooting for both of them from the beginning. I also really liked the supporting cast and am curious to see how these characters will evolve with the story.
I found the Trials timeline to be a bit rushed, I would have liked if there was more time between the individual trials, but perhaps this would have caused the story to drag. The world itself is brutal and very violent, I hope the lore will be explained in more depth in the next novel.
Overall, I enjoyed this very much.
Rating: 4/5
Stone Heart (Dark Olympus #0.5)
Again, this was just average for me.
I can't really rate it higher than 3 stars because the premise is almost exactly the same as 'Electric Idol', but sapphic. Medusa was Eros all over again, down to her 'I'm a monster undeserving of love' continuous inner monologue. Calypso wasn't developed at all as a character.
Everything was a bit too convenient, especially the ending which I also thought was very rushed. A few typos also took me out of the story while reading.
So, overall, it was fine.
Rating: 3/5
Have you read any of these books? Do you agree with my ratings? Let me know in the comments below, via e-mail or DM us on Instagram - we love to hear from you!
Until next time, keep reading!
Lucia