I am actually kind of scared to read Royal Elite #1-3. I didn't realize it starts off as a trilogy 😳 I thought they were all standalone books. Makes it a bit more intimidating now.
Incredibly bingeable. Steamy, drama-filled, and a VERY possessive MMC to boot.
I can't believe I just read this in one day. The first half, I was intrigued but not entirely impressed. Then suddenly the second half came in clutch with actual plot and drama, etc.
I haven't had great experiences with sudden murder mystery plots, but this one felt pretty natural. Thank god we got rid of the step mom.
And oddly enough, I miss Asterid and Levi now... I appreciated the epilogue and bonus chapters. Was good additional closure for me.
Also, again nothing game changing. I think this is only good if this is what you are looking for. Steamy and slightly cringy high school drama/environment. Definitely a mood read.
I wanted this review to just be a joke about Jackson speedrunning fake dating, but wow... the pacing was actually atrocious. I'm so disappointed. We had three different plotlines going, and only one was wrapped up. Deer and Jackson deserved better.
ALSO, somehow it felt like they speedran fake dating but it still took like 50% of the book before anything happened. How is that possible. Slow burn but not really? Kind of bizarre pacing compared to book 1 and 2.
I was literally so prepared to give this a 4 or higher, under the assumption that we actually cover everything that happens. Like where the fuck is Jackson's closure with his family. Where is the real deep dive into Jackson's kink that he literally goes to a sex club for. WHERE ARE THEIR STREAMS?
And Jackson really took me out during their first spice scene when it felt like they were having a heart to heart, and then suddenly was talking dirty and edging her. Like WE know Deer wanted it, but how did he?!
Dare I say it made it better though?
Nope. It all sucks. Spice starts super late, and has way fewer scenes. (This is only bad because the first two books are way more plentiful). We never wrap up the plotline with Jackson's family. The secret club ordeal seemed like itd be bigger and was only a brief catalyst for Deer's paranoia.
And Jackson's kinks or whatever.. again made out to be a big deal but with a significant lesser amount of spice, it was barely explored.
And even though we closed the plot involving Rick, I feel like the build up in regards to their relationship was awful! It was already kind of predictable it was him, so you may as well lay it on a bit thicker.
Also no closure with Deer's friends or family. Only with Rick- whom honestly, couldn't have cared less. Instead of visiting him in prison, I would'vs rather seen literally any other subplot addressed.
I literally just can't believe I have to give this a 3, the same rating as book 1, when I feel like this book had such better parts to the puzzle. Unfortunately the puzzle was shrunk down in size and missing some pieces. GOD, I am genuinely upset. I was tolerating it all the whole first half, in hopes for a good close. Nope.
I was so happy to learn about book 4.5 with the bonus chapters in Zav's POV.
These books are just solid, I don't have much to say otherwise. Val is funny, Sinadari is funny. Her getting her yoga studio, funny af.
This evil dragon dude Dob stirring the pot with Val and Zav, classic.
The plot is just overall interesting, but not entirely standout-ish. Everything else I have read in the last year has been romance or romantasy, so reading an urban fantasy with just a faint scent of romance is very different for me. My brain hasn't quite switched gears. Zav is all I can see.
Miles better than book 1, but Parker's cheesy lines made me want to hurl.
Nothing noteworthy honestly. Parker's lines just felt way forced. And still not happy about what felt like forced history. But it worked out I suppose.
I atleast felt their chemistry, and felt like they actually had some personality. The cameos for Aleks and Stevie just PMO because it was them just being horndogs (as expected) reminding me of how awful book 1 was.
And the sideplot with Parker's inheritance and the speedrun tourney wasn't bad either. Decent.
I REALLY wanted to like it more, but I can't get over how surface level their relationship was. The most insta-lust of insta-lusts I have ever read.
Like seriously. I was like why are we so obsessed with each other already. And why are we willing to throw away part of career so willy nilly already. We are just that hot huh. Like their first date, she explained her job and then they wanted to fuck. End date. HUH? WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE? WHERE IS SOME PERSONALITY.
And the gamer talk IRL really fucking threw me out. I cringed so hard I died and came back to life, when they were reverse uno-ing Decker at the end. Truly. The gamer talk everywhere else was fine, but the end FUCKED me up.
Also I nearly crashed out reading the blurb for book 2. Why are we ruining Sydney's character like that. When was there any sort of chemistry between Parker and Sydney in book 1? IS THEIR RELATIONSHIP IN THE ROOM WITH US?
I approve of book 3's vibes though, so I guess we are reading on.
Grumpy single dad, a sassy redhead, and the sweetest little girl. I didn't think I liked the direction, but it actually turned out to be a very emotional and cohesive story.
I was really ready to tank my review, when Marion shared Layton's story with his brother. I cringed so hard that I put my kindle down and went to bed.
Luckily we saved it, with how Philip handled the information and that it actually really paid off for Layton.
How everything came together and the emotional impact of everything worked really well. And since I feel I enjoyed it more than book 1, I gave it a 4.5.
Caroline was so cute and written very well. I hate when the child never appears the correct age. I do wish that we actually saw quiet shy Caroline a bit more before she opened up. They kept saying she changed since meeting Marion, I just wish I got to see it. Layton atleast was around in book 1, and also didn't immediately warm.
I love love love regency romance. Specifically Sarah M Eden, since that's all I've read so far.
But it is so heartwarmingly sweet. Just pure romance, not lust, sexy, or smut etc. Pure G rated romance. It just gives off such a different vibe than romance with spice / modern day romance!
And I like spice, no hate there. It just touches a completely different place in my heart though. And truly tickles my fancy right now.
Not nearly enough groveling, but a true battle of wits and affectations!
Seriously though, why didn't Philip have to grovel harder after leaving Sorrel in the library? He is lucky she basically hates herself, cause he got off WAIT too fucking easy there.
I loved their enemies to lovers. Of course no epilogue kills it for me, but I hope this is a Lancaster Family situation where we will see them more in the next books.
Their relationship is one big red flag factory, but I ate it up anyway 💀. I’m concerned for myself and my FYP at this point.
This was just solid. I don't have any crazy feelings about it. But it was a fun read, good spice.
It's a dark romance, so I have to take off my judgment pants. We have to be a judge free zone now - and fight off everything society has told me to be ashamed of. It was hot! I can accept this. But I can also go into a minor existential crisis on whether I relate to any of this, and if I have real-life problems to worry about... uh yeah.. Surely, I do not want to be stalked or edged or held at knifepoint.
Maybe it isn't that deep, and we just won't think further about that!
The way they work is pretty good. Is it crazy that I find Josh's 0 to 100 clinger status endearing and cute? See, I told you I think I have problems. Thank God I am in a long term relationship, since this dark romance shit might've fucked up my perception going into new sexual experiences.
"And His Grace does not think it a ridiculous name? It being Greek and mythological?"
"I 'spect not, Yer Grace. Named 'is own mount, Zeus. That be one o' them heathen gods, too"
++
"Such names are not ridiculous for horses."
"Then I had best search the forest for a sorceress who can transform me into a horse, or else I shall be doomed to spend the rest of my life in a constant state of ridiculousness."
I JUST FOUND OUT THERE IS A TV MINI SERIES FOR SEEKING PERSEPHONE AND THEY ARE FUCKING NAILING IT !!!!!!!!! THE ACTING IS A BIT ATROCIOUS, BUT NAILING THE BOOK NONETHELESS
This was simply 200 pages too long. But if your favorite part of a book is the epilogue then this is for you.
Genuinely, I don't think anything bad happened after the 50% mark. Everything after that was just about how much they love each other, and the milestones in their relationship.
And yet to actually advance towards the proposal and whatever- I HAD TO READ 100 PAGES OF THE SAME BOOK BUT FROM THEO'S POV. And it brought absolutely nothing. And the timeline was confusing, even when I was trying to give it a chance.
Like it would've made more sense to start the counting of days from the crash. Why are we counting backwards from a mystery point in time (assumingly the proposal?). I still don't freakin know.
THE END/EPILOGUE LASTED SO LONG I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THE BEGINNING. I HAVE NO MORE FOND MEMORIES OF IT. I am actually so upset.
I refuse to call a majority of Off Campus and Briar U, hockey romances. If you read an actual hockey romance series like D.C. Stars, then it just becomes very obvious that Elle Kennedy's series are just college romances, where the MMCs happen to be on the hockey team.
AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT BTW- but I just feel crazy for categorizing them as college romances in my reviews, when it feels like I'm in the minority here.
I start working summer school this month, so unclear how it'll affect my reading habits. The numbers might not be entirely accurate, but I think I'll touch atleast one of each on my list.
Just hoping for more. I really want to start Rina Kent, because I am itching for some dark romance and she's been on my list awhile. Once I'm done with the regency romance series, I'm thinking I'll replace it with Ana Huang or the Windy City series. Tommen Boys is a thought too, but I think those books are a little dark? Or heavy.
I have to start ACOTAR though if I want to do Crescent City by fall. Honestly, maybe I don't even do ACOTAR reread. I feel like I remember it very well. Skip to ACOWAR and ACOSF? I'll have to think on it. Or perhaps like a skim reread.
I won't lie, it is gonna be a big mood read month. I'm not sure how much time I'll need to digest ToG, and if I'm ready to reread ACOTAR.
The whole goal of this was to make summary content.. and I'm not sure if I should start yet. I have all the notes, but that is a lot of drawing.
A mutual on Fable wrote a review that convinced me to get into some regency romance series. I'm only on the first book, so we will see how I vibe with that.
Had to make room on Libby for holds, so I removed all my Abby Jimenez holds... so that is out. Might have to start Briar U soon, since that is most of my holds now. Aside from SJM books.
I did it! I am now part of the ToG fan club that thinks about it everyday for years to come. Our roman empire!
Threw in some palate cleansing novellas and dark romance in there as well. Regency romance is IN for me. First book for Briar U was.. disappointing. But I'll finish it this year, I'm sure.
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