This series is like a warm hug and a punch in the gut at the same time. Ruthless Vows was just as amazing as DivineHe dreamt of Iris Winnow again.
This series is like a warm hug and a punch in the gut at the same time. Ruthless Vows was just as amazing as Divine Rivals. I loved the progress of the plot. It was very well thought out and fascinating. There weren’t exactly many plot twists, not many were needed, in my opinion, I could kind of tell what direction the story was going, but that was because the story was told in a way that sort of let you know what was about to happen. I believe this is because the shock factor was mostly reserved for the horrors of war, which was a good decision on the author’s part. Speaking of which, as I’ve said before, what I appreciated the most is the accuracy of how the devastation of war affected the world and the people, especially when those who were supposed to be protectors turned out to be opportunists. What’s more, I also liked the development of the lore, as there were several new pieces of information and revelations on the gods, their powers, and their history. It was also told in a way that felt like a story within a story rather than info dumping, which is always a risk when there’s a lot of information.
However, one small thing irked me just a little bit, not enough to change my rating, but enough to make me roll my eyes a little. I’m not going to get into too much detail so as to avoid any major spoilers but the amnesia trope was present in the story (that’s not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb). I’ve said this many times before, and I imagine I’m going to say it some more in the future, but I don’t like this trope in the slightest. To me, it’s always giving soap opera (not that there’s anything wrong with soap operas, but let’s be honest, we don’t watch them for their quality). I don’t know if this is some sort of new trend with authors because I see it too often. After I noticed this pattern, I told myself that I would try to be more objective about it. I don’t want to be biased and overly critical of books I know in my heart are fantastic. This is why I don’t change my rating until I read how this trope is handled in the story. Thankfully, Rebecca Ross handled this trope pretty well, it was neither cliché nor cringe, which was my biggest fear.
Moreover, I still adore Iris and Roman with my whole heart, and that includes their character development. Iris lost a lot of her innocence in this war, she went through things that would traumatize any adult, even more so an eighteen-year-old. Yet, she remained as kind as she had ever been. As for Roman, his character arc was similar to Iris’s, in the sense that he also preserved his kindness, the only difference being that his was a different kind of traumatic experience. He didn’t experience trauma exactly the way Iris had, but his scars were as physical as they were emotional. His mind was tampered with, his body was damaged, and he was as much a prisoner of war as everyone under Dacre’s control (seriously that guy was worse than Roman’s dad).
Regardless, their trauma, as awful as it was, only brought Iris and Roman closer together. They had both been to hell and back and all they thought about was each other. Their love was so precious and pure. Nothing could keep them apart for too long, they always found each other. I may be a fan of adult books, but there’s something about YA romances that takes my breath away every single time.
Finally, the characters I loved in the first book were still amazing in this one. Attie, Iris’s friend, was so brave and loyal, risking her life to help save the world. Marisol was every bit the mother hen once more, worrying and fussing over my favorite war correspondents as if they were her children. I also got to see a little more of Iris’s brother, Forest, who struggled a lot with the scars (both physical and emotional) left on him by the war. His relationship with his sister was sweet, although it was a bit strained as well. Besides, I was taken completely by surprise by Sarah Prindle, Iris’s friend from the Oath Gazette. She had a wild side I did not see coming. What’s more, there was a new character in this book that left an impression, Tobias Bexley. I loved him almost as much as I loved Roman. He played an integral part in Iris and Attie’s quest to end the war. That being said, there were some sub-romances in this book that I was completely obsessed with. Who doesn’t love secondary romances, right?...more
That’s what he was absently thinking about–his gratitude for the wind, Iris, his future articles, Iris, how much longer until sundown, Iris–
This iThat’s what he was absently thinking about–his gratitude for the wind, Iris, his future articles, Iris, how much longer until sundown, Iris–
This is one of the most wholesome, wonderful, and devastating books I’ve read so far. Not only was the plot fantastic, the characters amazing, and the romance beautiful, but its interpretation of war and the various ways it affects people, from survivor’s guilt to trauma responses, and more was heartbreakingly real. Also, I really enjoyed the world-building and lore: the gods and goddesses, the conflicts between them, and how they put innocent lives in danger over their own issues (sounds familiar, doesn’t it). Besides, the author's pairing man-made weapons with fantastical creatures in the war was an interesting touch. What’s more, this book reminded me how adorable chapter titles are. I really think we should bring them back. I don’t know about you guys, but I haven’t stumbled upon any in a little while.
Furthermore, I adore Iris and Roman. I did not expect to go this crazy over them, yet here I am. They are both such sweet, lovable characters. They both have such fantastic attributes, but I love their competitiveness the most. It was so much fun watching them try to best one another. It was even better watching them fall for each other. Their love was so innocent and pure, representing their youth, and spontaneous and fierce because tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed for them. Also, the letters they sent to each other were precious. On an unrelated note, I kind of want a typewriter now, even though I literally have no use for it.
Lastly, other than my cute little lovebirds, I also really liked Marisol and Attie. Marisol is a B and B owner near the front lines housing war correspondents, specifically Iris, Attie, and Roman. She took on a motherly role for the three of them. She truly cared for and loved them as if they were her own, she supported them, and she was exactly what Iris and Roman needed given their family situations. As for Attie, she became the sister Iris never had. They instantly clicked together and formed a beautiful and supportive friendship. She is just as sweet as Iris and Roman. That being said, there is one important character that I am not overly fond of. Those who have read this will probably know who I’m speaking of. It’s not Roman’s father (although I don’t like him at all), more like someone who I didn’t expect to be mad at, even though I sort of see where they were coming from. I swear I was so angry I was shouting at the book like a lunatic....more
“Call me a monster, call me a devil, but you and I both know I will fucking shatter the rules for you.” He stares at me fervently. “Always for you “Call me a monster, call me a devil, but you and I both know I will fucking shatter the rules for you.” He stares at me fervently. “Always for you.”
But today, Jacks was failing at letting her go. He wanted to keep her pressed to the floor beneath him. He would have set the world on fire and th But today, Jacks was failing at letting her go. He wanted to keep her pressed to the floor beneath him. He would have set the world on fire and then let it all burn just to keep holding her like this.
I officially love this series more than I do Caraval. No shade to the OG, it is amazing, but Once Upon a Broken Heart takes the cake. In fact, out of all three books, A Curse for True Love is the best one in my opinion. If I could give it a thousand stars I would! Nothing I say will adequately describe the marvelousness of this book. I was not prepared for the speed with which I absorbed it into my brain. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series or the prequels as quickly as this one and life kept getting in my way as well. I feel so proud of myself.
Additionally, Evangeline is going through her toughest time yet. She is fighting tooth and nail to get her memories back after Wet Blanket Apollo took them from her. She also can’t tell friends from foes anymore, although she handles herself quite well, and on top of it all, people keep trying to kill her. My sweet girl can’t catch a break, and she deserves it more than anyone. Regardless of her memory loss, her instincts are stronger than ever, even though she doesn’t listen to them as often as she should. She becomes less trusting, more observant, and even more cunning, but she wears her emotions on her sleeve and that often betrays her. It was fascinating to read and by far my favorite character arc of hers.
At the same time, my blond boy, Jacks, is a hot mess. His girl has no memories of him, he thinks it’s his fault to the point that he wants to move as far away from her as possible, and he actually believes Apollo is the better option. Ew! Thankfully for all parties involved, except for Apollo but who gives a shit, Jacks can’t truly keep himself away from Evangeline. Especially since people keep trying to off her left and right. He also gets his own point of view in this book and it’s my absolute favorite. I loved nothing more than finally getting his side of the story without having to read it from Evangeline. By the way, the answer is yes, he is as much of a simp as I suspected he would be. There were clues beforehand, of course, but it’s a whole other thing to get it firsthand. What’s more, his character arc rivals Evangeline’s He's been through so much unbearable shit, no wonder he became a villain. I just wanted to hug him.
Furthermore, this is peak EvaJacks content. The angst, the longing, and the tension are higher than they have ever been. They’re also even more significant than before since Evangeline doesn’t remember Jacks, yet she is still instantly attracted to him, and he is convinced he should stay away from her, even though he can’t possibly do it. He’s seriously such a simp, I can’t! ...more
"Glad to know you're thinking about me when you kiss your husband."
How is this series so good?! And how is this book even better than the first on"Glad to know you're thinking about me when you kiss your husband."
How is this series so good?! And how is this book even better than the first one? That ending alone had me catatonic. I did not see the shock coming and it was so damn good! The rest of the book is just as amazing. I haven’t read a series this fast in a long time. I absolutely devoured this book. Watch me immediately grabbing book three and devouring it just as quickly. I’m so glad I have the complete series in my hands because if I had to wait a whole year or more to find out what happens I would need a sedative to last me that entire time.
Moreover, my love for EvaJacks goes beyond obsession at this point. I just love them so much. Evangeline becomes more of a badass, still in that sweet, kind way of hers, and Jacks continues to soften the more time he spends with adorable Evangeline. Their relationship reaches new heights, while still maintaining that palpable tension, angst, and inescapable attraction. Their feelings for each other only grow stronger, and their moments together become even sweeter and a little hotter, in a YA sort of way, which is actually even more torturous. You get why I loved it so much, don’t you?
In addition, I couldn’t possibly write this review without mentioning my favorite gal pal, LaLa. She makes some Jacks-level questionable choices in this one, which is not surprising since she’s also a Fate. Those who’ve read Caraval know that Fates have a different concept of dealing with things. Regardless, she’s no less amazing than she has ever been, and I still love her with my whole heart. What’s more, I didn’t mention Chaos in my review of Once Upon a Broken Heart and I deserve to go to book jail for that because he is perfect. Out of all the other men in this series, excluding Jacks, of course, he is the best one by far. I love how sensual and dangerous he is, but just like our Prince of Hearts, he has a softer, more vulnerable side as well. I like his backstory just as much as I do LaLa’s and while there’s quite a bit about him in this book, I know there’s more information to come. I can’t wait.
Lastly, Apollo sucks! Luc is irrelevant. That’s it. That’s all these two deserve....more
I used to be scared of it, but now I think love is another type of magic. It makes everything brighter, it makes people who have it stronger, it brI used to be scared of it, but now I think love is another type of magic. It makes everything brighter, it makes people who have it stronger, it breaks rules that aren't supposed to exist, it's infinitely valuable.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐,5
Words cannot describe how much I love this book. This entire series. I seriously should have read them sooner. Naturally, I loved the plot, it’s different from the last two books, although I missed Legend’s awesome games in this one. I also loved how so much of the lore revolves around love and its power over people, blending the plot and the romance together so beautifully. The whole story had me shooketh and melting from all the unrelenting plot twists and devastating love confessions, and there were a lot of them. It played my emotions like a fiddle. The Fallen Star would be proud. *wink wink*
Moreover, this book is both from Scarlett’s and Tella’s points of view. Just like in Legendary, Scarlett makes several questionable choices over the course of the story. I still absolutely love her from the bottom of my heart, she is the sweetest character in the series, but my girl had me facepalming too frequently. I know she said in the first book she wanted to make more mistakes but damn…this many? Also, for a person who loves stronger than any other character in the entire series, which is the best thing about her, too, she’s terrible at relationships. It’s low-key hilarious. Although, I’m sorry to say this, but her love triangle is completely meaningless, and it doesn’t really bring anything to the story. Other than Jealous Julian, of course, but there are other ways to use that. It doesn’t even last long enough to be convincing. As if there could be anyone other than Julian! What’s more, even some of her actions are inconsequential. Not that I can entirely blame her for that one. It’s not great when it comes to her romance, but she is one of the rare female main characters who don’t magically become experts in defeating their enemies. It’s actually really refreshing.
As for Tella, her choices may not be as questionable as her sister’s but they aren’t much better. She makes some mistakes, too, but at least hers are really hot. *wink wink* Well, mostly. She has her own love triangle going on, but it doesn’t make me want to rip my hair out the way her sister’s does. It actually feels like a necessary addition to her romance arc. Not that there’s a question as to who she’ll end up with either. It’d be clear even if I didn’t know who the sequel series is about. That’s what I prefer in love triangles, to be honest. She’s also just as badass as she has ever been, better even, and I still adore the way she yells at dudes who are powerful and stronger than her like it’s nothing. She’s not having anyone’s bullshit, and it’s literally my favorite thing about her.
Furthermore, no words can adequately describe the love I feel for Julian and Legend. Just like every single character in this series, Julian has made some bad decisions, too. They’re not as random as Scarlett’s but still easily avoided. Regardless, he is more than willing to do what it takes for Scarlett’s forgiveness. Even if that means going through a series of unnecessary events involving ill-advised courtships and challenges, only for Scarlett to realize nothing will change what she feels for him before any of it really happens. It’s as funny as it sounds. He loves just as passionately as she does, and I love him all the more for it. He knows he will go on loving her even with the possibility that her love for him is gone, and it’s similar, in a way, to his relationship with his brother. I would have loved it if Julian and Legend’s relationship had been explored a little more, even if neither of them has their own point of view. I hope it’s mentioned in the holiday novella coming out in October. I’d be a missed opportunity.
Speaking of which, Legend has left me a pathetic simp on the floor. He’s a charming guy in general, but this time he takes it on a whole other level. It is as if he actively put an effort into it just for Tella’s sake. You cannot comprehend how magnificent he is until you read the books. I don’t know how Tella could deny him. I’m a feminist but I would gladly be this guy’s bitch any time he wanted. I’m not even ashamed of that. I would literally do anything he asked before he even finished asking. Personally, I think that his character development is the best one out of all the characters in all three books in the series. He is one of the characters most affected by love. It was an absolutely wonderful arc.
Last but not least, my favorite sad blond boy, Jacks. I thought Scarlett was bad at romance until he came along and showed her up so spectacularly, I’m both sad and furious. What he does is pretty messed up. He clearly doesn’t know what love is, yet, and I’m dying to read the point where he figures it out in his series. I know it’ll be epic. I love this boy with all my heart (yes, I call him boy even though he’s thousands of years old). He is the reason I started this series in the first place, all because I wanted to read his books and have all the information, and I couldn’t be happier that I did. I’m so excited to read his story. He was perfect as a side character; I can’t even comprehend how breathtaking he will be as a protagonist. He has so much potential, plenty of room for development, and already enough information to be completely in love with him going into the series. I can’t wait to read what kind of fuck up things he will do then. I’m literally squealing just thinking about it....more
“I kept coming back to you, not because of Legend, or the game. But because you’re so real and alive and fearless and daring and beautiful and if w“I kept coming back to you, not because of Legend, or the game. But because you’re so real and alive and fearless and daring and beautiful and if what's between us isn't real, then I don't know what is.”
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐,5
This series will be the death of me! It’s already consuming my entire life. Just like Caraval, Legendary has left me speechless. Other than how epic the game is once again, and Legend knows how to set up a devastating game, the world of Caraval is explored further than just Legend’s Island. There’s a new setting, Jacks, new lore, Jacks, and new characters, like Jacks. I especially love how this world has its own version of the tarot cards and the characters are gods who used to rule over them. The plot is also astounding and just as mind-blowing as it has ever been. I don’t know how I will ever recover from it, especially that ending.
Moreover, Tella’s side of the story is amazing. I loved her point of view as much as I loved Scarlett’s. She is such an awesome, fascinating character, and a total badass. She is also obsessed with her mother’s disappearance. Their mother, Paloma, abandoned her and Scarlett when they were children and left them in the care of the disgusting garbage bag that is their father. Unlike Scarlett, Tella still is determined to discover the reason her mother left as well as her whereabouts. She still cares and loves her, in spite of her leaving them. She would do anything to find her, including partaking in Legend’s latest game and making some very questionable bargains with sexy and dangerous people. What I loved most about Tella’s character is how she goes from a young woman convinced love will never be an option for her to falling for the most unexpected and unattainable person in this whole world. I know it’s not original, I’m just saying I love it.
Furthermore, my feelings for Scarlett are complicated at the moment. I still love her from the bottom of my heart, but I am furious with her at the same time. She does something that is entirely too questionable in my opinion. I understand that she is upset, and rightfully so, but I wholeheartedly believe that she’s taking it a little too far. I’m not going to lie; it bothered me a lot. All I’m going to say is that if she hurts Julian, I’m going to have a hard time forgiving her. Also, all of you are going to hear about it because I have no one else to complain to.
Julian, on the other hand, is a wonderful, beautiful simp, who made a mistake, which I agree could’ve been easily avoided if he just opened his beautiful mouth and spoken right away, but it is undeniable how much he loves Scarlett. He looks at her like she’s his whole world, and that’s coming for her sister, Tella. I’m all for making dudes pay for being selfish (although, like Scarlett, I can see what led him to it), but once again, I think it’s a cruel way to go about it.
Moreover, the two men who absolutely took my breath away in this book (other than Julian) are Dante and Jacks. I publicly stated while I was reading book one that I didn’t like Dante. That’s because I was stupid and didn’t know any better. Now, I would let him use my back as a doormat. He could do a lot of things to me and I’d say thank you. The things he says and does have me melting. Besides, he and Tella are so wonderful together. I ship them so hard. They have their own troubles to get through, particularly after that ending, but it all looks promising to me. There’s just too much passion and too many feelings. They cannot be ignored.
As for Jacks, he is the asshole of my heart. He is so mean, selfish, handsome, and alluring, that I can’t think straight when he is there. I would let him do whatever he wanted to me as well, and he definitely would without an ounce of hesitation or guilt. He is an authentic morally gray character and it’s always his type who would sacrifice anything for those they care about, as few as they are, and if that’s not the sexiest thing in the world, I don’t know what is. What’s more, I like his interactions and chemistry with Tella, but they’re not enough for me to see them together. It’s not just because I know he gets his own story in Once Upon a Broken Heart, but also because no matter how strong his connection is with Tella, it’s nowhere near her connection with Dante.
Lastly, I have to admit I was hoping for something more shocking when it came to Legend’s true identity. I totally saw it coming from the first book, and I would’ve been bummed out with how obvious it is if it weren’t for the fact that despite the circumstances, I still don’t fully trust it. It's that lack of trust that I love most about this character. He is absolutely fascinating and cryptic even with his identity apparently revealed. There are just so many more layers to wrap and I can't wait to see what more he has up his sleeve....more
It was true. She loved to get lost in her own imaginary world, one with dragons and princesses and mermaids, because it was much easier than the reIt was true. She loved to get lost in her own imaginary world, one with dragons and princesses and mermaids, because it was much easier than the real thing.
“So. I might not deserve you. And you might forgive too much. But I’m damned glad to have you.”
This is exactly as adorable as everybody said. Ther“So. I might not deserve you. And you might forgive too much. But I’m damned glad to have you.”
This is exactly as adorable as everybody said. There is nothing but cuteness from start to finish, and just enough conflict and angst so it doesn't get boring. There isn't much plot, per se, it is heavily focused on Viv's coffee shop. Also, there is almost no romance at all, other than a few long looks, some moments of closeness, and a very brief kiss. All of them are heartwarming. What there is a lot of is the found family trope. It is clear that this book revolves around the wholesome relationships between the characters and what brings them together as much as it is about coffee. This is purely a feel-good book. However, I have one complaint. The beginning of the book is significantly slower in pace than the rest. There is too much focus on the building process of the coffee show. While I understand its significance as it comes back later, I think that fifty pages is too much of it.
Moreover, the characters are all amazing. Viv is the sweetest orc there is. All she wants is to make people happy with coffee. She has some people from her past she cares for as much as they care for her, and everyone she meets in Thune is adorable. Also, Tandri, Viv's assistant in the coffee shop, is thoughtful and loyal, with a dark past of her own. She is a succubus who just wants to be accepted and respected in spite of her species.
Besides, Thimble, the coffee shop's baker, might just be the best character in the book aside from Amity the dire-cat, who is basically just a giant cat. No more information is needed. Thimble is a small-statured, selective mute with insane baking abilities and a kind heart. There's also Calamity, Cal for short, a hob who is as equally shunned as orcs and succubi but hasn't let that affect who he is. He does honest work and is a wonderful friend. Not to mention Pendry, the bard. He is as brave as he is talented. He refuses to let his fears and insecurities win and I love him so much for it. All of Vib's customers are the same as well. In fact. even some of the antagonists are likable. I didn't hate them for long. I would literally die for all of them.
Lastly, what I loved most of all is obviously the relationship between the characters. That is the most important part of the book. It is pure and a cure for the soul. Even when misfortune found Viv, everyone stuck with her and helped her, even those who antagonized her. Even though there is little to no romance and I expected some more, I was perfectly content with the platonic love between all these characters. I didn't need anything more....more
“You are my wife. My fucking everything. I’ve told you this before, and it remains the same. There is nothing you could do that would ever change what“You are my wife. My fucking everything. I’ve told you this before, and it remains the same. There is nothing you could do that would ever change what I see or how I feel when I look at you.”
Spice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐,5
I know that not a lot of people like this series (or the original), but to me these books are amazing. Sure, they’re not perfect, by any means, but I still love them so much. To begin with, Born of Blood and Ash has a fantastic plot. I admit that the whole prophecy thing and the way the prequel story and the original come together is a bit of a headache, but I had a ton of fun trying to figure everything out. I really liked the foreshadowing and parallels to Poppy’s story. In the previous books, particularly the first one, there had been an overwhelming number of parallels which made me feel almost as if I was reading the same story just with different characters. Thankfully, there was much less in this book. What’s more, I admit the plot was a little predictable at times, but there were moments I did not see coming at all as well. In my opinion, that’s a pretty well-thought-out story.
What’s also very well thought out is the world-building and lore. The world had such an intricate political system, with a lot of conflict between courts. There were a lot of rules that needed to be followed. It was very interesting seeing the way the characters tried to work around them, and find loopholes. It was even more interesting to see the consequences of their actions after a bad call. Besides, the lore is one of my favorite things about both the series. It takes the basic essence of vampire lore and mixes it with godly rules and powers. It’s such a simple yet fascinating idea. I loved it while I was reading Poppy’s story, and I loved it with Sera’s.
Moreover, as wonderful as this book is, there is sadly something I didn’t like. The writing of this series has never been the best. There was always something off, usually when it came to the dialogue. Sometimes it was a little cringe (but nothing too bad), and others a tad unrealistic. It was as if it’d be unlikely that a person would say a sentence in the way the author had written it. Plainly, the dialogue felt awkward. There was a lot more of it in this book than any other. Not to mention that the way the author blended the old way of speaking with the modern one was not entirely successful either. Fortunately, that was the only thing that stood out to me in a negative way.
In addition, Sera and Nyktos will live in my head rent free forever. I love them, their relationship, and their character arcs so much. Sera is as amazing as she has ever been. I will never get tired of beautiful, badass, and violent women. Never. Sera is no exception. Her character arc in this book especially blew my mind as easily as it broke my heart. After what she’d experienced at the hands of disgusting pervert Kolis, she was left deeply traumatized. I was so inspired by her healing journey, which, in many ways, was even more difficult to accomplish than defeating her foes.
As for Nyktos, he deserves an award for the perfect fictional male lead. Just like I will never get tired of female characters like Sera, I also will never get tired of fictional love interests like Nyktos. I don’t care how many times I read about a male character being supportive, protective, and feral over their girl, it will always be my cup of tea. On top of that, Nyktos had his own healing addressed in this book. He was also deeply traumatized by what Kolis had done to him. He had never been comfortable with the touch of another or even feeding from someone until Sera came along. He had to face these fears for Sera’s sake, and if that’s not the sweetest, bravest thing ever I don’t know what is.
Lastly, I loved so many of the secondary characters, but as I’ve said before the best one will always be Reaver, and that applies to Poppy’s series as well. I’m not known to be fond of kids in general (except my niece and nephews), but there’s a special place in my heart for lovable fictional kids. Reaver is the cutest boy, he is too smart and perceptive for his age, he is loyal, and he loves Sera and Nyktos more than anyone else. Every time I saw his name appear on the page I wanted to pinch his cheeks. Nektas is a close second, he’s literally everyone’s dragon daddy and I love him for it. That being said, as much as I hate Kolis with everything I have, the man is absolutely revolting, I must admit that his villain origin story is on point. You have to appreciate a character that started out as benevolent only to end up a violent creep. The same goes for Kyn and Veses, although they both disgust me as much as Kolis does....more
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