anacarter's reviews
1042 reviews

 Finally made the decision to DNF this at 74%, I was so bored, and nothing was happening. It wasn't bad but I don't want to waste more time on a book that is just 'mehh'

-FMC was starting to annoy me, she felt whiny and super childish. All she ever talked about was grieving her family, her love for Niko, her attraction to Jerrick, and trying to control her powers. I totally get it, but Jerrick had been genuinely trying to help her. Yet, she still kept complaining about it??

-The plot felt stagnant - FMC, Tove (tov-uh) plans to get married, has a ball, she has feelings for her Advisor 'Lord Niko'. After days of searching for a suitable husband, Niko grows jealous and eventually confesses his feelings for her. Things take a turn when Jerrick the King of Palaena arrives at the Ball, Tove feels a slight connection to him.

Jerrick kidnaps her and brings her to Palaena, he presents a marriage contract, signed by her mother, that binds her to marry him. They marry just days later. (it's a whole situation Jerrick is cursed, he killed his father, etc - not a major spoiler but I am leaving a lot about her mother out)

Despite being held captive, Tove manages to communicate with Niko and her Lady-in-Waiting, Betina, through her mother’s magical mirror, and they devise a plan to invade Palaena. Tove also has a trade deal with Jerrick.

After spending a few months in her new role as Queen, Tove grows close to her new companions—Prince Jonas, who becomes like a brother to her, her new lady-in-waiting, Dorit, who becomes a close friend, as well as Ophelia & Cordelia the kitchen staff who are wonderful characters, and always have a laugh with Tove. Even Jerrick, her husband, proves to be more complex and not as bad as she initially thought. Tove begins to reconsider her plans to invade, as she comes to cherish the found family she’s built in Palaena.

Niko wasn't thrilled about the news of a ceasefire. Honestly, Niko was annoying af. Niko is like one of those 'nice guys' but gives off narcissistic misogynist vibes.. ickkkkk! Also Niko's weird jealousy.


I’m not sure what happens later in the book, but I can easily imagine Niko going behind her back to undermine her decision about the ceasefire. Him showing up with a GIANT ARMY and the book ending in a cliffhanger.


I loved Jerrick and wish we had his pov. he's so 🥰🥵🥹

I didn't like the semi-love triangle going on.


Thank you for the ARC, L.L. Riley
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 The fact that this book is over 800 pages is madness.

This review is chaotic just like the book but bear with my thoughts lmao: My Notes & Highlights

3.5 stars, full Review on my blog!

This was... wow. Although I'm unsure how I feel about it, I did like it better than Carnage. I want to give it a higher rating based on my emotions but logically, there were so many elements that felt unnecessary as with the last 40% jammed packed with information.

Wow, I'm surprised that some things were finally explained, except the whole Benny situation?? He's barely mentioned?? like cooool we get to know about Benny's cousin Hudson, wow nice! but Benny not so much. At least we get to know they failed their initiations. I KNOW RIGHT CRAZY they were almost LORDs. I still feel like we weren't given all the answers to the plot holes from Carnage, however, Shantel left us with even more questions.

Hoping we get an Adam book because wtf?? He's keeping so many secrets and I have so many questions. He's with the FBI? CIA?? Actually wtf??

Madness is about 400 pages too long. There were way too many unnecessary sex scenes and filler, like cool she's going out with the girls from her double life but such a waste of 10 pages. Cool they're fucking for the 200th time NICE!! I feel like the entire first 65% of the book was mostly smut with little substance, and then the last 40% CRAMMED with plot twist after plot twist, and some SHOCKING information. But it all felt a little rushed.

Her pregnancy was predictable, like ok why else would she be vomiting on and off for months LOL?? predicted this around 66%, idk it wasn't hard to tell with her vomiting like 80 times in 600 pages.

Annabelle—the supposed big boss going through her initiation—acts like a lost little lamb at every turn yet is also completely clueless. I didn't like Annabell/Charlotte much. She's branded with the LORDs crest and craves 'power' yet she folded so easily, that she was practically panting like a dog in heat for Haidyn. She was so easy to manipulate. Her mother did such a good job.

Did I like their 'romance'? No, not at first, I didn't think they had chemistry but they grew on me as a couple, I liked how they were so protective of each other.

Can we talk about the GIANT gaps where significant events happen off-page? I feel like there were so many background events that didn't make it to the book. 😭

The rinse-and-repeat plotline is driving me mad

Shantel, girl, you have way too many twists crammed in. Very shocking twists but holy fuck it was way too much for my poor heart to handle.

There were so many unbelievable things:
→Her stepfather reversing her birth control dose?? is that even possible??
→Drugs to make you live longer??
→the fact that Haidyn has 'truth serum' like he's Snape from Harry Potter with his Veritaserum lmfao

We get some information on the Founders? I wish it was explained better? Will there be a series on them?

Can we talk about his petname for her? 'Doll face' ickkkkk, and the fact that he calls her that over 200 times in the book.

Anywaysssssss, Shantel, when is Kashton's book coming out I NEED ANSWERS.
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The Ritual | review
The Sinner | Review
The Sacrifice | Review
Sabotage | Review
Carnage | Review
Madness | Review

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