mel_c_bell's reviews
661 reviews

Yeah...I don't know. I am definitely intrigued by the full production audible originals but...I don't know. This is a kinda Salem witch trials meets Dracula meets The Exorcist vibe. I think this leaned a bit too heavily on the cinematic side and not enough on the storytelling side. The actors were great, the overall plot was fine, and the story was interesting, so nothing made me want to DNF—BUT, I feel like something was missing that was sacrificed from the story for the production.

This prob don't make no dang sense, but yeah. 

The story is a 4, but the narration is a weak 3. Sorensen, the author, also narrates the audio, and I won't say it's bad because I never really considered stopping it, BUT it's at best meh.

Guy gets a call that his dad has officially hopped on the senile train and has been put in a care facility with his wife (guy's mother). Guy and his wife have just gone through something traumatic, so they decide, "Hey, what the heck. Let's just drop everything, pack our sh*t in a Uhaul, and move into my parents's now vacant home!"

Now, cue all the weird stuff. We have two converging plotlines/timelines that ultimately reveal something shocking...surprise! 

I know I'm probably sounding a bit blah about the story, and you're thinking, "Why da fuq did you say it's 4 stars, then?" Well, because it is.  The story is predictable; it follows a very standard traumatized-couple-return-home-to-creepy-childhood-home-to-rekindle-but-instead-uncover-loads-of-dark-messed-up-hidden-family-secrets,  BUT it's done well. We even get a socially awkward paranormal expert guide, a creepy house bait and switch, AND a plot twist. 

Overall, it's a dark yet fun story.

I have wanted to read this book for a minute, but the mixed reviews have always given me pause. Seems like most fans of Sophie Lark expect that insta-smut...I mean, respect. This book is NOT that. Going to put this right up front and save you some time: This story is more a romantic fantasy than a romantasy. Yes, it does have a HEA, and many of the key themes surrounding the resolution are directly tied to the romantic relationship. BUT, like 70% of this book, Anastasia is a child (nothing creepy going on).

Anyways, enough of the silly smut vs no smut BS. 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!

O M G! Historical fiction + fantasy + romance + VAMPIRES = YAAAASSSSSSSS!!!

Be prepared to slow down when you open this chonker—and not because the writing is dense or whatever—no, this is a story that demands to be savored. I feel that Lark did an amazing job writing these characters, especially—and there are a lot—it never gets bogged down, forget who someone is, or feel indifferent towards any of them. I actually cared about each and every single one. The setting is massive and absolutely stunning. The lore, which is a mix of pure fantasy, actual history, and Russian folklore, is downright divine and presented with such care. Lastly, if you really feel like it, you could spend hours discussing the symbology, themes, and literary devices ad naseum.

Will I argue that the writing is flawless? No. Or that the pacing is perfect? Also, no. But it is intelligible, coherent, and entertaining.

It's a no from me Dawg.
He's f*cking the mom, he's f*cking her, and he has some complex about his self appointed nickname.
I'm good.

I think I'll try this story again later as a read instead of a listen. The narrator is fine, maybe a little monotone, but I am just kinda lost in the sauce with the audio.

The writing in this book is nothing short of pure decadence. It will make you slow down and appreciate every sentence, but don't worry because the prose isn't overwhelmingly dense.

We follow one of three witch sisters as she enacts Fate's will to pave a path for a man to become king.  After reading I really had to sit back and reflect on my own morals because the relationship formed with these characters made me cheer for the abhorrent and mourn the reasonable. Also, the ending. THE ENDING!!! The utter despair...

I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. The idea of the 'next generation' felt odd BUT OMFG it's so damn cute. And, yes, the age gap is BIG, get over it because it is so damn sweet.

Such a cute collection of s*xy monster fckr short stories. Wasn't a huge fan of the merman story but it was still good. 

Ate up the feminine rage oozing from this but it could've been more effective with better editing.