lockedgirl's reviews
34 reviews

got this from a blind date with a book event at the local library, it was being advertised as modern magic and sweet romance. too bad it has the 7 deadly sins of shitty contemporary romance.

sin 1 - first person
sin 2 - childish writing 
sin 3 - obsession with describing what characters are wearing
sin 4 - mentions of social media and internet slang
sin 5 - modern pop culture references
sin 6 - infinitely more interesting side characters
sin 7 - generic

it's first person.

If I were a lady in the Victorian Era this would have blown me out of my long socks and petticoat. So much drama and scandal, every character sucks, it's just like a modern CW show or something. 
A really fun classic read. 

It took a while, but I finally read "Throne in the Dark" by A.K. Caggiano. This is the first book in the Villains and Virtues series, which is, like, insanely popular on romance book Reddit (which is my romance recommendation refuge). I definitely know why this book appeals to so many people—it's written in that "funny millennial" style. Think Joss Whedon or Rian Johnson. Very MCU core. There's nothing particularly wrong with that; it just isn't for me.

I think a major issue I have with this book is the romance, which is sort of the main part. Amma and Damien are sort of insufferable. My main issues lie with Amma, who is far too accepting of her fate as a slave to this obviously evil person. I would have liked more angst or struggle from her, especially since we learn that she escaped a similar situation. We're constantly told that Amma is purely good, but I really just think she's passive. She gives money away, she advocates for others, but she never really pushes back against Damien's use of blood/demonic magic.

Meanwhile, Damien is Kylo Ren. He is clearly much kinder than he lets on, but I really do think he isn't as evil as he could be. I’d say more about him, but he essentially boils down to an edgy teenagers idea of evil filtered through a romance MC lens.

It's hard to review a "meh" book. Like, yes, this book is readable, yes, it's well-written—it's just written in a style I don't vibe with. I understand the appeal, but I'd rather read something that takes itself seriously. Solid 2½ stars. Truly "meh." I won't be reading the sequels.

Sequels / middle entries in a trilogy are not always the best. And this book certainly lives up to that. It expands heavily on the worldbuilding but fails in the 'introducing new characters' department. The last book had side characters but they were more passive, allowing the big personalities and interactions between Emily and Wendell to shine. But in this book two new side characters are given a much more active role, to the detriment of the book itself.

Dr. Rose and Adeline, a 'fellow' professor and Emily's neice are thrown into the fray, going to Germany with Emily and Wendell. To say that Rose is unbearable is an understatement, & Adeline fills the role of annoying younger sidekick to a T. Their inclusion bogs down the beginning and middle of the book. With things only beginning to pick up after both characters take a backseat to Emily's quest.

The last 3rd of this book is wild. So it almost makes suffering through the first 2/3rds worth it. By the end I couldn't help but wonder where things are going after this. There's no more big bad, and the main characters are happily together. I'll still be reading the 3rd Book, but I'm going into it with a bit of skepticism 

a very fun start to a series. Emily Wilde is a very fun protagonist, to me she is definetly on the spectrum. I understand there is contension about stereotyping Female characters with ASD - that these characters are always unfriendly and cold. Emily is not bubbly or quirky, she's set on a goal relating to her hyper Fixation. I like her.

Our second MC is Wendell. What a guy. Clearly supernatural, very much a rake, somewhat snobby and very handsome. He works pretty well as a romantic interest. His early book rake-ish-ness is a bit of a turn off for me, but it sort of makes sense based on his unique worldview. Wendell does supply some very romantic scenes, but I think the book would work well if Windell's and Emily's relationship was platonic.

The worldbuilding is the crown jewel
of this book. Since Emily is an accomplise
scholar she is already familar with academic texts on Faerie and even adds footnotes in her journal. The Faeries in this book are scary. I love them.

Overall, this book is a great first entry to a series. It's a big reccomendation from me.

this is Leslye Penelope's second book published under her full name. I picked it up after reading her first work The Monsters We Defy, which I loved. But I feel like Daughter has a much richer story and setting, with a main character that stands out so much more. 

Daughter of the Merciful Deep, like the book before it, takes place in such an interesting setting - The deep South in the 1930's. Either in Georgia or Alabama, it doesn't specify and doesn't need to. What immediately sticks out is just how rich the setting is, with the backstory of the town Awenasa being one of the first things we're introduced to. Awenasa feels like a living breathing place, and Jane, our main character has such a deep connection to the town and the people that live there. 

Jane cannot talk, she signs and writes, only sometimes vocalizing. But the book is written from her perspective, and we learn that Jane is knowledgeable and passionate about her home. 

When the town is threatened, Jane is helped out by a man resembling someone who died long ago, and she begins to unravel the tightly wound mystery about Ancestral Waters, magical powers and otherworldly beings. 

The first half of the book is a bit of a drag, setting up everything before the second half kicks into gear. But once the second half kicks in, it KICKS IN. Everything set up falls into place, everything feels satisfying and substantial. I cried at various parts throughout the latter half of the book, because I had grown so connected to Jane and the people around her.

I think this is my second 5 star of the year, out of the 70 or so books I've read in 2024. It's beautiful and reflective, taking a look at a part of history that has been long forgotten. All while adding an interesting mythology and magic system that just feels real.

this book has such a cool setting - 1920s Washington DC. I loved how the city was described and how intimate the characters were with it. I find myself annoyed with books about people that live in NYC so this was a fun change of pace.

This book is a lot more than a supernatural story, it looks at the class divide and how people are able to overcome their traumas. A really good read and I'll definitely be picking up the author's other books.

this book made me so anxious I loved it