kelsbookzone1's reviews
236 reviews

An opening very much like Cinderella’s step sisters getting ready to go to the ball but with more cheeky humor coming from Theodesia, Theo, self described as the ugly sister of the two attending the ball. If you like fantasy retellings with a different perspective, pick this one up. But was “Cinderella” really the pure and good woman, that a fairy god mother wanted to save; or was it all just a spell? Theo is doomed into an arranged marriage until she discovers her sister’s secret- she summoned the fairy- which you should have figured out from the title.

There’s no one to really root for. Theo is the wicked stepsister so you have to decide does she deserve better for her crimes. Does the villain turn deserve a hero story.? Theo was enjoyable but I’m not sure if she does. She would play the victim to certain rumors of wickedness but also would relish living up to them too. But this was a fun retelling. My mind kept picturing a very “Ever After” scenery and I appreciated the imagery of it. The ending was also a smart choice, feeling complete but still leaves you feeling like you can’t wait for more.

This gives you almost every fantasy trope but I didn’t mind it. As this is the first in a series, I’m intrigued to read the next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for access to an early release copy 

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for access to an early release copy.

You gotta love it when the main character feels like the villain in her own story. That was Cordelia, zipping through her perfect life, willing to do anything to keep it that way.  Particularly delivering her own vigilante justice towards men.  If you’re looking for the answer for a female Dexter, this could be it. Maybe a little too on the nose for a copycat Dexter.

Sometimes what gets me with these “holier than thou” protagonist is really, they’re still picking and choosing retribution, as the main character is still not holding to the same standards. But maybe that’s the point? Not being able to get past our own selfishness? This is a very coded unreliable narrator story.

It was a good choice to make this fast paced, really kept the story moving. It started off pretty strong but got muddied in the middle with repetitive internal Cordelia thoughts. I would have liked some flashbacks, like why Cordelia became who she was, to break up the repetition. But it was alright; an easy read. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Publishing for access to an arc

John Tucker Must Die, anyone? If you’re a fan of that movie, pick this book up. This young adult story finds three women with nothing in common, except they find they are all dating the same influencer. But unlike John Tucker, this one actually does die. 

Meet Tommy- mega influencer and serious jerk. To the point he was such an uncharming jerk, I couldn’t believe any girl, let alone 3, would fall for it. Each moment I learned more about Tommy, was another moment I couldn’t believe a girl would forgive him for. The insecurity high school stereotype girl feels a bit overplayed and out of date, especially in 3 format. The way the female characters were written was eye rolling and insufferable, the way they kept going back for more as awful as Tommy was. You wanted to root for them but mostly, you wanted them to root for themselves. You have to make it about halfway through the book before it starts to feel less stereotypical. I think the story would have been told better in dual timelines.

The story was a good look at influencer life and the critique and pressures of “cancel culture”, particularly that of the non existence of it; and its effects on high school ages. Also, the author spent a lot of time, maybe too much, successfully building up everyone is a suspect. I would have loved to see the teenage girls as more than insecure, vying for a boy and ready to turn on each other. 

Audio book returned via Libby app- in a reading slump

Thank you to NetGalley and Fearless Publishing for access to an early release copy.

Is there a better way to open a thriller than with death? If there is, I don’t know if I know it. A story of tarot cards and dual timelines told in first person, a letter arrives at Aisha’s front step reminding her of who she truly is.

Telling the story of tarot cards and readings, I appreciated the author integrating it into the story, like with a YouTube video, rather than with just telling the reader. I always appreciate that more as it comes across less condescending to the reader. It does go on for a little too long, as our main character already knows. 

The dual timelines didn’t work for me. The story jumped way too quickly between the two without feeling like it said anything. I would have preferred to get a little more from the present time before jumping so much. I did appreciate the care and attention the author expressed in Aisha’s OCD

Overall, the story feels lacking; it mostly feels like an over explanation regarding tarot cards and I think I wanted more of a story. And it could be the length of it but it just felt underdeveloped and I never felt fully invested in the characters. Also, Aisha should have figured out the who in the story. I was just bored and this put me in a serious reading slump

Very surface level and lacks depth - but could be okay if you like fake dating tropes and un complicated story telling 

Extremely loveable characters - but the pacing felt off , or uneven. It took a little too long to really get the story started

Felt pretentious and outdated the whole time

it was infuriating how the first half of the book kept feeling like they kept blaming the other woman. Like everyone kept apologizing to him- WHY?

So detailed and enjoyed some of the ideas that the author developed. I would enjoy reading more from this writer