(Cruel Fates, #1) Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova review

 

Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

⭐⭐ 2 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

Disclaimer to my friends who really liked this: I am so, so, so sorry. I tried so, so hard, I swear lol. Please keep in mind we all have different likes and dislikes, and this one was a little hard for me.

I'm going to start off by saying the book itself is really small, so it should not have taken long to read. The writing is really easy to read, the words all but slip off the page, and the story is so easy to follow that you will not need to really overthink it. That being said, there are a few actiony moments where the smooth, easy writing seems to have a few confusing humps where it could be unclear or confusing, like something needed changing or adding. Still, it was a super easy, quick read...

The level of easy is one of my problems. One of the big twists at the end, I called it within the start of the book. Like, I could see the twist from 100 feet back, blindfolded and wearing earplugs. It was that easy to spot.

The book is classed as enemies to lovers, but honestly, it felt hard to really call this one that. I felt like it was lust-forward. Some behaviours felt more childish or just mean for the sake of being mean, with no real weight to them. This is in no way a slow burn if you're hoping for that either. The lust and spice burned that right out of the water.

While the spice is not bad, it's just not really well placed and felt more like a crutch to keep the book afloat. More travel than story going on. I did not hate the book, but the problems sort of made it a mid read rather than a good read.

The FMC, Alira, is portrayed as all but a strong fighter and powerful, but after the start she felt super watered down, which left a bitter taste in my mouth, honestly.

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The Hunter by Tiffany Roberts review

 

The Hunter by Tiffany Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

I can't believe the series is over. I have found so much enjoyment from the Vrix series and the Spider's Mate series. I have been waiting for this book since I finished book two, and I was not disappointed.

I read the book in record time, and Lacey and Telok had to be the two who carried a lot more pain and past trauma than the others in the series, I would say. The banter and jabs between these two at times could be so amusing and funny, and other times sad, but it makes way for a really fun read. There is a storyline in the book, but honestly, I think it plays second to the relationship and spice, which might leave people a little sad if you are after a more story-focused read.

There is a lot of action and drama in the story, and an already fleshed-out world from the past books. I would have loved more story and for it to have gone in a different direction. I felt there were far too many of the same moments of travelling, and it needed more going on, but honestly, I could not be mad or sad about it due to the fact I really loved the book and the series as a whole.

I totally enjoyed the banter and seeing this found family and growth, and most of all, the spice. It's butterfly-worthy sort of spice. I love the world that the book is set in and the characters. I did not like the fact it's over, and the ending left me a little sad as I wanted more.

I think the book at times lacked depth, but overall, a quick, funny read with spice.

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(Bride of the Shadow King, #3) Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes review

 

Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

⭐ 1 Star
🌶️ 2 Spice

Reading this was painful and draggy, and I had to fight tooth and nail to get through it. I fought like a gladiator to avoid DNFing and calling it a day. I pushed through, but this book, much like the second book, felt like wading through quicksand at times.

I spent chapters upon chapters disliking everyone and everything, while desperately wishing that the characters I had grown to like throughout the series would wake up, smell the coffee, grow a spine, and stop acting like sheep. I was practically pulling my hair out and screaming for a redo, or just anything that would make some of their choices make sense.

At times, I genuinely felt like I was losing brain cells trying to follow some of the characters' actions and decisions. Everything just felt lacklustre. There were also things left completely open and unresolved, which made the ending even more frustrating for me.

I normally avoid giving bad reviews if I can help it, and I always try to find redeeming qualities in a book, but I struggled with this one. Whenever I found something I liked, the things I disliked seemed to wash it away.

I'm glad I finished it and completed the series, but I definitely won't be rereading this one. Even the spice couldn't save this ending for me.

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(Bride of the Shadow King, #2) Vow of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes review

 

Vow of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

⭐⭐ 2 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

Well.... I am sort of unsure where to begin. The book starts where book one left off, and honestly, I was super hopeful. I enjoyed the first book, but book 2 missed the mark for some pretty large reasons. Did I hate the book outright? No. It was OK at points, and there were places that I liked. I read it in a few hours, which is always a good thing, but I could not overlook some of the bigger problems, and let me start with my main one.

There is a lot of back and forth and dragginess at times, not only between characters and the leads, but it also bleeds into the story as well. I found myself on repeat. An event happened in book one, and it happened again in book 2 with little difference, but the event left a bitter taste in my mouth. Our leads' reactions after it honestly felt totally underplayed. Like, if I had been in her shoes, I would have gone crazy, but she had little reaction, which felt wrong and left the whole thing feeling, well... not good.

Then there is something else that happened two times in the same book, and it felt like those quests in World of Warcraft where you get your quest, go do the thing, and come back, but rather than getting a different quest, you end up with the same quest again. It left me totally underwhelmed, and some of the biggest events in the book just did not feel as important or grand, or fill me with fear, because it was lacklustre.

The leads had ZERO growth. In fact, I felt like some lost brain cells and regressed to ignoring logical and rational thinking. Our King had to be one of the worst for this. I wanted to yeet my book out the window and scream, but I held out for him to wake up. Instead, I was stuck on a merry-go-round, and that was not solely on him but other characters as well.

The book gives you information, but it's not really what you need. The stuff you need is guesswork and in the wind, and I was fast approaching putting the book down and not carrying on. Sadly, I hate DNFing a book, so I held out.

The fact is, the book has a great idea for the story. The direction and picture are clear, but it was sorely and poorly done at times. There were points I did really like, but overall, it was hard to see that when you were being drowned by problems.

I don't even want to get started on our FMC. Really, I might well be here for days and pull my own hair out.

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(Bride of the Shadow King, #1) Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes review

 

Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️ 1 Spice

I was not sure what I was getting myself into when I started this book, but I found it pretty easy to get into. I felt no real holdback, apart from finding the wording at first a little jarring, but that might be because before starting this I had read a large series where the writing was very different from this.

Now, to get down to it. This book opened, and within seconds it clearly portrayed the life and care our FMC, Faraine, got. I totally felt for her. How she was looked at and treated made me mad, but it felt well placed and not just thrown in and not backed up by the behaviours of those around her. (I hate her father and a few others in her direct life.) She really does the whole blend in and don't make waves as best she can, and it irked me that she was all but living like a shadow.

I liked the way the author detailed the workings of what was going on and the clear ways of explaining the world and reasoning for things without throwing out so many facts at once that I might get bored.

I found the storyline interesting. I felt like the story had weight, but I felt at times the lust-forward vibe did push me into the Ugh! department. While I sort of wish it had been drawn out more, I get that the book moved fast, and without that pull between our leads, it would have left a weird, loose connection and made the story a little weird.

I am EPICLY confused about an event that happened that led our FMC into the drama. I would have liked more information... If I had been the lead, I would have been hunting for answers and not just following the commands of my father, but I guess it fits with her personality.

It was a fast, fun read with touches of darker plots and more amusing moments. Was it perfect? No. But was it horrible? Also no. I enjoyed it and finished the whole thing in only a few hours.

There were moments I was losing my mind, screaming, wanting Faraine to speak up, to reach out, to just do something, but it's only the first book, so I hope we see some growth.

Sadly, by the end I really felt for our MMC, Vor, and the ending itself left you needing to know what happened next. Overall, a solid book.

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(Beasts of the Briar Book 6) Stolen by Shadows by Elizabeth Helen review

 

Stolen by Shadows by Elizabeth Helen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice

EMOTIONAL DAMAGE 100 PERCENT

Going into this book, I knew right away it was going to be a painful start, given where the last book left off. I knew some of my favourite characters were currently not in their right minds, and I was so right. The first 40 percent of the book was a test of my will, and as always, the book was amazingly written. But it's very clear that this series, which started off lighter with thick storylines and side quests to boot, has slowly grown darker and darker, with more emotional pain and trauma than you could shake a stick at.

This book really covered the feeling of powerlessness, being controlled and used, and having no way out in sight. That really had me screaming. I was being thrown from pillar to post and all but pulling my hair out, but by midway, I started to see the light, and I was skipping and twirling and just totally happy that things were starting to pay off. This brilliant story was giving and not only taking from me emotionally. There was a large part of this story where I was giddily happy, like I was seeing rainbows and happiness, and I was enraptured. Things were going my way... for a moment, I was so happy!! Clearly I missed the signs.

This book felt much darker than the others. It felt more draining on my soul. There were some epic moments where I was screaming and groaning, and other moments where I was so light and happy, and I was overwhelmed by the sheer spectacularness of the book, let alone the series.

The characters at this point feel as real as you and me. We know them, we have watched them change and become stronger and smarter, and they are part of us. They make us laugh and cry, and that is one of the reasons this book got me.

I was taking my time reading this book, knowing I had a little while to wait for the last book in the series, and just taking a slow ride through. At some point, the hard start of this book eased into this... beautiful hopefulness, and I was lured... hoodwinked... into a place where I thought I was safe and loved and it was going to be bright and beautiful...

But I was blind.

The story led me into an inferno of pain and grief and did it in such a way that I felt like my own heart was breaking. I was overwhelmed and struggling to take in what was happening and hoping it was a cruel joke. And I can't even be angry or hate it because it worked so well. It gave everything such weight to the story and, most of all, a level of knowing that this is not just bad, this is... life and death. Everyone is standing on a knife edge.

This book is a masterpiece of emotional storytelling that can either hold your hand or push you off the edge of a cliff. Richly detailed, with the story always being the main focus and goal. The book has a mix of love, family, epic story, emotions, and more, but everything has a reason and value, and nothing feels like fluff.

I want to be mad. I want to moan, but I can't due to how well it was done... how much the book cost me, stayed with me, and held me to it.

Overall, a fantastic read that left me broken and hurting. It gave me the world for but a moment, but showed me the cost of battle and to never forget, if things look good before the end... bad things can follow.

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