Alexis Merlo

What was this?

Reviewed: 11-13-24

Barely any plot in all the 90 chapters, repetitive edgelord dialogue usually about shmex, annoying and cliche FMC, no tropes subverted, lackluster world building, no clear antagonist, barely any character growth / lackluster epiphany, and two main characters whose greatest character trait is obsession with one another. I truly do not understand how this is rated so highly. It’s like AI compiled romantasy books and chose the most repeated themes and tropes, putting them together poorly. I hate to be so mean, but this novel could have been 15 chapters *tops*. I will not be reading the next novel.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Trauma corn

Reviewed: 05-28-24

This book is punishment for a reader. It is trauma corn for the sake of being stressful. The character development is severely lacking and Diem’s naievte and impulsivity is maddening. There is so much telling and not showing regarding Diem’s intelligence, passion to save others at any cost, her respect for those surrounding her, etc. The entire Luther plotline that took up practically the entirety of the first quarter - half of the book was so unnecessary. The miscommunication trope is constant between characters and between author and reader. The constant interruption just as a conversation or incident is about to happen is predictable, unrealistic, and frustrating at this point. There is very little balance in this book, actually not at all. Diem’s character growth is nonexistent. She is not being forged through her hardships in any tangible way. The other books were far more balanced. It’s one thing to put a character through nonstop threats and have some wins, if even small steps forward, without smiting them back to step one. Go to Goodreads and seek my (Alexis) 2* review if you want to commiserate.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

SO GOOD

Reviewed: 04-01-24

Everything about this was phenomenal. The characters, the romance, the plot, the worldbuilding, the tension and conflict. I was STRESSED. I love Kat with all my heart. I love the feminine rage and character growth. I ate this up. I was so invested. The writing was so well done — everything mentioned comes into play and is brought full circle. The pacing was wonderful, I was never bored. Slow in the right spots and fast when called for. It just felt complete. I absolutely cannot wait to see there this goes. So impressed!!! I’ll definitely be rereading this someday. AHHHH

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Didn’t blow me away like FW, but enjoyable

Reviewed: 11-12-23

This one felt more YA to me than even the first one, something I was hoping would dissipate. There was a good deal of YA tropey arguing and characterization. The pacing was also strange. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s a biography, so it would be written choppy like that, but FW didn’t feel that way to me. Breakneck speeds and a load of stress and losses with not many bright spots. It’s definitely a darker novel, and Yarros knows how to keep those stakes high. The *very* ending, although I guessed it, didn’t really feel earned to me, but perhaps it’ll all be explained retroactively. I did enjoy being back in the world with the characters, I enjoyed the dragons, and Andarna was the best part of the whole thing. I expected some more growing up on Violet’s part after all she’d been through. Idk, maybe it’s because I’m 32. Anyways, can’t wait for the next one!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

SO SAD IT’S OVERRRR

Reviewed: 10-05-23

Okay, so Envy was never my favorite, I only started having some positive feelings towards him at the end of the last book. He came across as creepy club dude to me before then lol. BUT, he is either tied with or surpassing Wrath. And Camilla? Give me all the Camilla. I LOVE that she was 28, I love her attitude, I love that she was unmarried, I loved everything about her. And Envy being sweet? YES. And Kerri, you did the jealousy so right. That could’ve been tricky and come across as controlling or icky, but it didn’t to me, and I applaud you. The plot was interesting and I was invested the whole way through. Writing was great, as always. I love how Kerri expanded the world in this one, too! I CANNOT wait for more. SLOTH BOOK PLEASE!!! I actually stopped reading yesterday because I only had an hour and a half yet and I didn’t want this to finish. I could say so many more good things, but give Kerri her dang flowers! 🌸 💐

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Yawn

Reviewed: 09-19-23

So, I love FBAA and ASITE. Do I think they were the best written books? Absolutely no. Could they have used an editor? YUP. Were they wildly enjoyable for me? Hell yeah. I loved the characters and the worldbuilding despite JLA’s sometimes questionable writing techniques. This was not wildly enjoyable for me. I was barely invested, not much went on, the worldbuilding fell flat, and the FMC was annoying. The narrator made it worse. I’ve listened to and enjoyed this narrator before, but she really played up the babyish nature of the FMC and it grated my nerves. Lots of info dumping, lots of long stretches of nothing happening, insta lust with zero tension, angst, or longing. The spice wasn’t even great, which surprised me. For all the people saying it was super spicy, it wasn’t. There were 3-4 scenes. Anyway, I highly doubt I’ll be reading the rest. This is possibly the meanest I’ve ever been in a review: it feels like JLA rested on her ego and got lazy with this one. She already isn’t prone to listening to common constructive critiques, and it’s worse in this series. She also copy pasted a few things from FBAA. I don’t think there was any character growth at all. Like there was zero character arc. And I’m tired of the damsel in distress, super young FMC who doesn’t believe in herself. Why can’t we have complex characters with a mix of traits that may sometimes contradict? Tropes are great, but when you don’t subvert them and do the same thing over and over, it’s no good. This felt just like all the other mediocre / forgettable books I’ve read in the genre. Anyway, sorry for this super negative review, I guess I’m just disappointed and annoyed, but I stick by what I said.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Kind of disappointed

Reviewed: 08-25-23

KAK is one of my favorite authors in the genre and has been for quite some time. This may all be a matter of my preference for her dark romantasies and my expectations not being met, but I’m disappointed. This has “enemies to lovers” on the cover, and that it is not. I’m surprised, as KAK is usually incredible at writing morally grey characters — Valroy, Vlad, Erik, Izael. All of them are perfectly morally gray because we see them do evil in the story. Their threats to the world and characters are VERY clear. Mordred was morally off-white at best, and I felt very much like I was being told, instead of shown, that he’s “the bad guy”. He’s generally nice. This is more of a grumpy / sunshine than an ETL. Also, he didn’t really wrong her. Yes, she was held in his home, but he treated her quite well, save for his moodiness. ETL needs way more contention in order to live up to the trope. I also am usually obsessed with KAK side characters, but found that to be lacking in this one. I feel like I’ve read this novel many times in this genre, which is to say it’s average. The world could’ve been richer with all the legends, but was also lacking. I’m unsure whether this was supposed to be a YA novel, as that’s what I felt from the book, but I really enjoy KAK’s adult novels (not just for the fun stuff). I’m unsure whether I’ll continue on with this series. It felt like a different author wrote this altogether. I just wasn’t invested. It wasn’t poorly written, but it wasn’t memorable. I can feel her style in every other novels of hers I’ve read, but not this one. So, a bit of a heads up — if you’re looking for the same experience as the darker novels you’ve read, this isn’t it. But if dark romantasy isn’t your thing, you’ll likely enjoy this. Again, I absolutely adore everything else I’ve read from KAK, and I’ve reread those novels multiple times. This just didn’t do it for me.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Meh

Reviewed: 07-27-23

The worldbuilding started off really cool and I enjoyed the beginning. That said, when 98% of your MCs’ dialogue is questions, especially questions that go unanswered, it feels extremely unnatural and gets irritating fast. There are numerous other ways to withhold information from your reader & between characters that could’ve been employed. The tension between the MCs wasn’t great and I didn’t feel much of a connection between them. The ending was extremely abrupt, as well. When it finished I literally said “that’s it?” I may have had a slightly better opinion of the novel if the narrator wasn’t so monotone and flat. There was practically zero inflection and it really dragged the characters down. I gave the second book a chance hoping the plot and characterization would really pick up and the endless questions would cease, and the plot has become a bit faster paced. Overall, average in my opinion.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Best one yet!!!

Reviewed: 07-22-23

I am absolutely in love with these books. The characters and their development, the depiction of trauma, the worldbuilding, the romance, the angst, the plot, ALL OF IT. Parker’s prose is also absolutely gorgeous. Some of the metaphors she makes have my jaw dropping and I am always impressed. These books don’t get enough love. The first two were a bit slower, for necessary reasons, but the explosive plot of this one more than makes up for those. Orlaith is one of my favorite fmc’s of all time and Rhordyn is tied as my favorite book bf. Oh, and the SPICE?!!!! Yup, top notch. Can’t wait for the next book!!!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Read it and listened

Reviewed: 06-23-23

I LOVEEEE Leon and Rae. The spice is amazing and the story is, as well. Leon will forever be one of my favorite book boyfriends, and I’ll likely reread these novels time and time again. I can’t wait for Soul of a Witch!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!