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magnafeana's reviews
278 reviews
Luxuria by Colette Rhodes
4.0
Everyone said this is one of the GOATs of MR…AND THEY WERE RIGHT
Luxuria is everything I was expecting and nothing at all.
First of all, we stan an aware queen! It bugged me so much how monster/paranormal romances hardly had heroines who got horny for that monster physique. I always wanted an MC who liked what they saw or grew to love what they say (Like Radiance).
This FMC fits my bill to a tee!
I do wish there had been a bit more background world building to better understand Hunters vs Shades. We were told it, but we weren’t shown it until the third act of the book, which is a bit disappointing.
I would have loved to see more of our FMC being kicked out to feel her pain of being an outcast. Why do Shades exist? Why do Hunters exist? How it all came to fruition.
The third act always felt very…sudden? I mean, yes, there is OW drama technically even though the MMC and the OW have never been together. But I don’t know. I agreed with Astrid. The FMC wanted to be coddled and made a hasty emotional-based decision, which surprised me since, while she has been a bit naïve, she also seemed pretty leveled.
I’m not saying the MMC did everything right, but if the FMC is a queen, does she not recognize kingdom priorities?
So 4.5 ⭐️ rounded down for the third act drama and world building nitpickery. But if you want to read one of the top ten MRs, I strongly suggest this book!
Luxuria is everything I was expecting and nothing at all.
First of all, we stan an aware queen! It bugged me so much how monster/paranormal romances hardly had heroines who got horny for that monster physique. I always wanted an MC who liked what they saw or grew to love what they say (Like Radiance).
This FMC fits my bill to a tee!
I do wish there had been a bit more background world building to better understand Hunters vs Shades. We were told it, but we weren’t shown it until the third act of the book, which is a bit disappointing.
I would have loved to see more of our FMC being kicked out to feel her pain of being an outcast. Why do Shades exist? Why do Hunters exist? How it all came to fruition.
The third act always felt very…sudden? I mean, yes, there is OW drama technically even though the MMC and the OW have never been together. But I don’t know. I agreed with Astrid. The FMC wanted to be coddled and made a hasty emotional-based decision, which surprised me since, while she has been a bit naïve, she also seemed pretty leveled.
I’m not saying the MMC did everything right, but if the FMC is a queen, does she not recognize kingdom priorities?
So 4.5 ⭐️ rounded down for the third act drama and world building nitpickery. But if you want to read one of the top ten MRs, I strongly suggest this book!
Mated by Robin Moray
4.0
Well then! Let the stanning of grumpy/sunshine shifter edition commence!
Jesse and Duncan’s story was your classic grumpy and sunshine pair, but the grumpy wasn’t so grumpy and the sunshine wasn’t just sunshine.
What struck me about this book was how at least the bear shifter stuck to actual bear animal traits. I really liked Duncan not being too grumpy. Sure, he was lonely, but he wasn’t a snarling, swearing a-hole. He just was a recluse who kept to himself and was asocial.
Jesse is our sunshine, vegetarian “omega” wolf who has to put up with everyone putting him down. I liked how, even thought it was emphasized many times how sweet he was, he did show his own teeth.
Now. Onto what I didn’t like.
I heard that book 4 of this series was the best book, and now that I’ve seen Nero and Hamish, I want nothing to do with their books—at all. Absolute d*cks. I understand why people didn’t care for the other books now.
Now did I like Callum and we only got glimpses of him. Sometimes, I can catch glimpses of characters and be interested in a book starring them. I instantly disliked Callum. Don’t wanna hear about his story either.
The reason why this book is 3.75 ⭐️ rounded up is for all the aforementioned. I did enjoy this story. I wish I saw a little more antagonism from Chris and Jeffe. I don’t like OM drama, but I wish Jesse communicated to Duncan another wolf wanted him and he said “no”. It doesn’t make sense for all of Duncan and Jesse’s progress that Jesse doesn’t say a word about Chris.
I’m waffling a bit. This was an excellent read! I have no interest in any of the other protagonists, so this was a great hello and goodbye to the series!
Jesse and Duncan’s story was your classic grumpy and sunshine pair, but the grumpy wasn’t so grumpy and the sunshine wasn’t just sunshine.
What struck me about this book was how at least the bear shifter stuck to actual bear animal traits. I really liked Duncan not being too grumpy. Sure, he was lonely, but he wasn’t a snarling, swearing a-hole. He just was a recluse who kept to himself and was asocial.
Jesse is our sunshine, vegetarian “omega” wolf who has to put up with everyone putting him down. I liked how, even thought it was emphasized many times how sweet he was, he did show his own teeth.
Now. Onto what I didn’t like.
I heard that book 4 of this series was the best book, and now that I’ve seen Nero and Hamish, I want nothing to do with their books—at all. Absolute d*cks. I understand why people didn’t care for the other books now.
Now did I like Callum and we only got glimpses of him. Sometimes, I can catch glimpses of characters and be interested in a book starring them. I instantly disliked Callum. Don’t wanna hear about his story either.
The reason why this book is 3.75 ⭐️ rounded up is for all the aforementioned. I did enjoy this story. I wish I saw a little more antagonism from Chris and Jeffe. I don’t like OM drama, but I wish Jesse communicated to Duncan another wolf wanted him and he said “no”. It doesn’t make sense for all of Duncan and Jesse’s progress that Jesse doesn’t say a word about Chris.
I’m waffling a bit. This was an excellent read! I have no interest in any of the other protagonists, so this was a great hello and goodbye to the series!
Point of Contact by Melanie Hansen
5.0
Immabout to cry—it was just that good
So—this was my first introduction to Melanie Hansen and by god, she blew me out of the water with this one!
What I loved about this story is that it was story-showing and not story-telling, meaning we understood the weight of emotions through her showing us the importance behind the rationale.
“Grief is messy, chaotic,” Jesse says, and this story encapsulates it. It shows the grief of a father, a best friend, brother-in-arms, and secondhand grief of lovers and friends.
This cast is so emotionally divergent and so authentic and organic and real. The little things about Jesse’s parents both being deaf and him signing if he speaks about them; Watkins’ depressive spiral; how “thank you for your service” and “do you have any children?” are some of the most innocuous yet cruel words to say—I am so taken aback how so many subjects are taken into account in the most natural way.
Some people might be harsh on Carl, but he was a very real character. He’s not being the stereotyped selfish partner who wants their lover to get over their grief. Instead, he’s the helpless partner who’s good intentions come across badly. And that is a very real thing.
When someone we know grieves so heavily or is going through a traumatic time, many people are left helpless NOT because of apathy BUT because of sympathy. They don’t know what to do. They can’t feel empathy, putting themselves in the shoes of their grieving friend. But they feel sympathy and don’t know how to go about it.
Jesse’s character spoke to me a lot about him helping everyone except himself and rarely allowing people to see his grief. Some people may be a bit slighted we didn’t see Jesse’s breakdown, but think about people who have gone through that sort of experience.
Jesse and his mates all display very well how VAs grieve differently. Some get appropriate help and then keep busy. Others refuse help and go into a negative, harmful headspace. Others float between.
The range of emotional responses Hansen captured—phenomenal.
This story was a love story—familial love, platonic love, and romantic love. The arguments and miscommunication were real and will strike a nerve, especially for anyone who has or who had people they knew dearly in the military.
I’m so glad to have bought this book, I really am. I plan to reread this book when I’m not so emotionally charged.
Riley James Estes, although you are fictional, you represented so much through your presence in this novel. Thank you, Hansen, for this truly weaving love story. I am excited to explore your work.
5 ⭐️s all around. And I will make sure to recommend this book.
So—this was my first introduction to Melanie Hansen and by god, she blew me out of the water with this one!
What I loved about this story is that it was story-showing and not story-telling, meaning we understood the weight of emotions through her showing us the importance behind the rationale.
“Grief is messy, chaotic,” Jesse says, and this story encapsulates it. It shows the grief of a father, a best friend, brother-in-arms, and secondhand grief of lovers and friends.
This cast is so emotionally divergent and so authentic and organic and real. The little things about Jesse’s parents both being deaf and him signing if he speaks about them; Watkins’ depressive spiral; how “thank you for your service” and “do you have any children?” are some of the most innocuous yet cruel words to say—I am so taken aback how so many subjects are taken into account in the most natural way.
Some people might be harsh on Carl, but he was a very real character. He’s not being the stereotyped selfish partner who wants their lover to get over their grief. Instead, he’s the helpless partner who’s good intentions come across badly. And that is a very real thing.
When someone we know grieves so heavily or is going through a traumatic time, many people are left helpless NOT because of apathy BUT because of sympathy. They don’t know what to do. They can’t feel empathy, putting themselves in the shoes of their grieving friend. But they feel sympathy and don’t know how to go about it.
Jesse’s character spoke to me a lot about him helping everyone except himself and rarely allowing people to see his grief. Some people may be a bit slighted we didn’t see Jesse’s breakdown, but think about people who have gone through that sort of experience.
Jesse and his mates all display very well how VAs grieve differently. Some get appropriate help and then keep busy. Others refuse help and go into a negative, harmful headspace. Others float between.
The range of emotional responses Hansen captured—phenomenal.
This story was a love story—familial love, platonic love, and romantic love. The arguments and miscommunication were real and will strike a nerve, especially for anyone who has or who had people they knew dearly in the military.
I’m so glad to have bought this book, I really am. I plan to reread this book when I’m not so emotionally charged.
Riley James Estes, although you are fictional, you represented so much through your presence in this novel. Thank you, Hansen, for this truly weaving love story. I am excited to explore your work.
5 ⭐️s all around. And I will make sure to recommend this book.