bookishspy's reviews
279 reviews

Okay look... this book is not objectively good, but the audiobook was so that has probably skewed my opinion somewhat lol 

I binged this in 24 hours. And I want to read the next one asap. 

The professor is hot AF and it seems I have a thing for vampire professors at the moment 😂

I will say that the relationships did seem extremely underdeveloped. And their personalities were quite shallow. We realistically know absolutely nothing about these men apart from two of them were absolutely horrible until they weren't and one was lovely but only compared to them. 

And then we have the professor who is somehow the one we know the most about and yet we still know so little because he's all mysterious and old lol 

Also there's so much smut in this book that I started skipping it. It really didnt add literally anything to the story and a girl can only care so much 😂

Overall, this was a fun, super smutty read that wasn't super deep. I would suggest you read it only if you're into these things! I will be continuing however I'm not sure if I'll get all the way through the series or not. Depends on the next book I suppose

➛ 𝟑.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

PS there was a period scene and just.. I didn't need that lol the idea of a tampon frozen as a lollipop was unnecessary, to say the least 🤢

Okay.. this was a good book, but sadly, I've walked into a trope I absolutely hate. So with that, I will now have to nope out of this series... 

Ignoring that, this was entertaining and fun. I had my suspicions of some things but others took me by surprise. 

Caleb I am 100% obsessed with, and I'm sad to leave him behind now

The story was just amping up, so I hope that people without my particular ick will enjoy the rest of it! 

Overall, it's a great book and a fun series, but for me that particular trope is a no-no. I wouldn't have started this series had I known but it wasnt a warning on the first book 😭

(My rating will ignore that trope)

➛ 𝟒 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜’𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐚."

I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading this book! A world where happiness is one vırus away is such an interesting concept! 

The way this YA sci-fi book was written was so different from the stories I usually read. We not only get multiple main POVs from both sides, but we also get interwoven snippets from other POVs that seem random but aren't

One perspective in particular really stuck with me throughout, and that was the office building in Tokyo. That really drove home quickly how while this might not be the best thing for everyone, for some, it could save their lives

I enjoyed Rón and Mariel's relationship until they got on the road. After that, I couldn't really connect with the characters as much as I wanted to

One part that didn't hit right for me was the bus scene, where they spoke about how the people on the bus had accepted the risk because they either wanted to contract it or didn't care. This neglected those people who have no other choice, and that neglect seems to continue throughout

As an immune deficient person, I wish a voice like mine had been represented. Someone who didn't want to risk it because the risk would be too great, and yet still had to go about their daily life surrounded by people like this

The ending I expected to shock me, but I saw it coming. There was really no other way it could end. It was still a great ending that left me satisfied!

Overall, this was an enjoyable and thought-provoking read, and I would definitely recommend it, though perhaps it's just not 100% for me

➛ 𝟑 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

So, at first, I was so confused about all the great ratings because this book was not written well at all. 

But then Caleb happened, and I get it now. I get it. God is that man everything 🥹

The others are fine enough, but I'm sorry Caleb stole that show 100% 

And I'm proud to say I knew who was at the window the whole time 😏

I do have to say though, the way this book is written really threw me off so much. The random Marvel references, the way their relationships just sort of came out of nowhere, and the way sometimes characters had just been randomly caught up on things that they didn't know about previously... ugh 

Not to mention the actual lack of urgency in any of the tough situations they found themselves in? That really bugged me. 

Now, despite that, this story has me hooked. I'm sat. I can't stop and I don't really want to either

Overall, I can't give this 5 stars because of the writing, but it's definitely a story I'd recommend reading if you can get past that! 

➛ 𝟒 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

You can't give me the best morgue scene of my life (iykyk) and then do that 😭

I can't explain how fast I devoured this book! This whole series is beyond addictive!

I loved the dynamic of the boys in this one, and it put me through so many emotions so fast

However, I'm still utterly obsessed with Christopher. Don't ask me why, but I fully am. His sessions with Avery are everything! Their little knowing comments were just so good! And I'm sorry, but honestly, he seems sus in the best way 😏 

I have theories and a desperate need for the next book 🥹 I maintain, I'm still not above begging! 

No notes, only pleas for more of this series

➛ 𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

Imperfect, but still so much fun 🥹

Binged this in a day. Was giggling and kicking my feet the whole time! 

I absolutely loved their talks and the way Lukas could just read her so easily!! I wasn't bored once, and the spice was (mostly) so good 🥵

However, I have to say, this isn't 5 stars for me for two reasons. 

Firstly, there was no real kink at play 90% of the time. Minor control things, but nothing so extreme it required all that build up? Yall even did the kink test and still had some of the most vanilla sex. 

Secondly, I truly despise when women in books take literally two seconds to orgasm. Which happened entirely too often in this. It was always less than like two minutes. Which, tbh is disappointing to say the least. 

Now, usually, these two points may not be a big deal, but considering it was basically the whole premise of the book, I had to mention it. 

Overall though, I truly did love this so much. Ali's writing is just so addictive and I'll never stop auto-buying her books!

➛ 𝟒 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

i finished this yesterday but needed to process

as always, i'll keep this ✨️spoiler free✨️, but lawd it's hard not to mention certain things

let's just start with the basics

w r i t i n g - 
i hated it. why oh why does violet feel the need to mention how shocked she is that her man is good looking over and over again every single time she sees him? like, does she have memory loss? oh...

no but seriously, i truly couldn't stand the amount of boring filler and pointless people in this story. halden, for example. most pointless, useless human in existence. 

and one more gripe I had was the names. stop switching between first and last names so much! im dying here 🫠 honestly had no clue who was who half the time

next, r o m a n c e - 
okay, dont come for me, but lawd was i bored. at this point, i'm sorry, but xaden literally bores me. dain would've been more exciting than this man. this felt tooooo broody, and it was just lacking anything to make me care anymore about their supposed romance. it honestly seems more like a liability than anything else at this point 

thirdly, p l o t - 
did some parts surprise me? yes, absolutely. 
did i cry multiple times? also yes
was this on par with fourth wing? no. fourth wing felt well fleshed out. it felt subtle and hid things well.

onyx storm, however, is about as subtle as a car crash. violet literally thinking "weird." about hints at certain things, for example. so blatantly obvious i can't even. or certain people just magically knowing things for ✨️no reason✨️ lmao like come on, you can do better than that 

lastly c h a r a c t e r s - 
violet felt a bit slow this time around... isn't she supposed to be smart? idk i feel like she didn't spot some super obvious things

as you saw above, xaden clearly got on my nerves, and i'm over him, sorry not sorry

aaric i love for obvious reasons. honestly, one of the more interesting characters

ridoc was fantastic and had some of the absolute best comedic timing, thankfully. that was desperately needed

tairn and andarna... comedy was one thing that was missing from their relationship this time. they were much more fun in iron flame, and it just felt lacking this time around

tbh i like dain. have since iron flame, and i really didn't get the hate, though that man has some secrets for sure. 

bodhi was fine, but like... idk can't say anything without spoilers, but dude.. 

everyone else just hasn't stuck out enough for me to even comment tbh 

o v e r a l l -
it was fine. i complain, but like, i had a good time. it certainly wasn't even close to the worst book i've read. part of the plot did surprise me, and i do have theories for the next book, but this definitely wasn't fourth wing level 

➛ 𝟑.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

Just re-read this in preparation of Onyx Storms release in a few days and omg its amazing how obvious certain things are knowing what I know now! I love it so much 🥹
—
I have been waiting for the right moment to read and review Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros! I didn't want to start it too early, and I guessed it would be exactly my jam...

It seems I was right!

I was hooked on this story from the first few chapters. Usually, with fantasy books, there's a period of info dumping that I have to account for, but somehow, this book just throws you right in, and you can catch up so easily. That's an impressive feat. 

The characters were really interesting. It was always hard to get attached to anyone because there was a risk of getting your heart broken. I loved how most characters weren't just built around one trait. They seemed more real than that, which is a credit to the writing!

Xaden and Dain were honestly a little predictable, though I did love the tension having these men around created! Violet was also a pretty good FMC, not annoying, and she was able to make mistakes and not be perfect

The plot I guessed a lot of, but not all thankfully. This is, unfortunately, one area where I'm going to have to be a bit harsh. While this was an enjoyable and entertaining reading experience, I didn't find myself gasping or being caught off guard when I really wanted to be. 

Overall, I read this in a day, and honestly, just in time for the Iron Flame release! I can't wait! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good dragon based fantasy with some romance!

➛ 𝟒.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

I read this because I absolutely loved and devoured the prequel book, The Dare. In comparison though, this was a bit of a disappointment 

I wanted to say all the things I liked first, but sadly, I think it's really only the spice and the positive BDSM representation. 

All the smutty scenes were hot af 🥹 of course the FMC wants back in that group! With spice like that, who wouldn't 😂

Moving on to what I didn't love... 

The lack of individual personality. I didn't really have any reason to get attached to anyone except maybe Lucas here. They all just kind of seemed like they were copy/pasted but with different outfits lol 

Also, the FMC is absolutely insufferable. I actually cringed when she was like, 'I'm a part of the we too' or whatever she said.. it was along those lines. But seriously hun no, you've been around for two seconds. As a toy. Like we know they have the feels but it just felt off. 

Lastly, the complete lack of plot. I expected more. Of anything. There was very little. 

Overall, it was fine, but I'm not jumping for joy or rushing to recommend it like I did with The Dare

➛ 𝟐.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

I swear if this is not meant to turn into a RH I'm gonna be mad. It's so close to one its not funny. 

I do admit though, this was much better than the last book. Not amazingly or anything, but i did have some actual feelings regarding Grim, which was nice. 

One thing that annoys me is that I have absolutely zero feelings towards anyone else. It feels like it's trying to make me give a damn about other characters but there's just too many. I. Don't. Care. 

I want to. But I don't. 

Despite this, I'm kind of invested in the romance aspect now. I do think I'll continue. Probably straight away if I'm honest. But the author definitely needs to work on making relationships matter

➛ 𝟑.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬