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olivialandryxo's reviews
813 reviews
The Temporary Wife by Catharina Maura
Representation:
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It took two chapters for me to be hooked on Ares and Raven, and I fell completely in love with them as the book went on. Between that, and how intrigued I was by the foundation set for Luca and Val, I had high hopes for their book. I couldn’t wait to start it.
So imagine my disappointment when I felt absolutely nothing for the two of them at all. There were cute moments and funny ones, sure, but I never truly got attached. For far too much of the story, it didn’t feel like they had any real chemistry, and Luca wasn’t being charming; he was being an asshole. Even when things shifted somewhere around the halfway point, when I could finally see a connection forming and Luca found his footing as both a lead and a lover, I was never rooting for them. I wasn’t invested. And that’s really the crux of the issue here, I think. Everything else I could say comes back to this.
Well, almost everything. If there’s one thing I loved in both books, it was seeing the other Windsors come together to support the two leads when the going got rough. They’ve got such a great dynamic. I love the siblings, and how wholly they welcomed first Raven and now Val into their circle. This might well be my favorite part of these books, and I’m looking so forward to more of these moments as I continue the series.
On the other hand, if there’s one thing I didn’t love in either book, it’s Grandma’s actions in the final third. Once again, I’ve got beef with Grandma.I fully expected something to happen that would lead to Luca and Val breaking the newlywed rules and suffering the consequences. But even so, I hated the way Grandma evicted Luca without a single bit of remorse. I was proud of him for talking back to her as he complied, for telling her that he hoped these rules were worth losing a grandson because he would never come back and he would never forgive her. I just wish he’d actually stood his ground. I wish he and Val had cut ties with her and moved to Canada for a fresh start, away from her and all of her crap. It would’ve been so satisfying, even more so if the siblings took their side and followed suit. That there was a brief mention of them refusing to come to family dinner isn’t enough. Grandma needs to face some real consequences for her actions. I don’t care if she says she had their best interests at heart. I don’t care if Val is technically right about her and Luca’s relationship only getting stronger as a result. The fact that they forgave her so easily and are now back in the family like nothing ever happened means Grandma won’t learn a gods-damned thing. It means she’ll just keep being a manipulative, controlling asshole, because none of her grandkids will properly stand up to her. And I’m salty about it.
Alright, I think I’m about done. This book wasn’t inherently good or bad, but it also wasn’t anything I’d hoped it would be. I really hope I enjoy the next one more.
Current ranking of the series:
So imagine my disappointment when I felt absolutely nothing for the two of them at all. There were cute moments and funny ones, sure, but I never truly got attached. For far too much of the story, it didn’t feel like they had any real chemistry, and Luca wasn’t being charming; he was being an asshole. Even when things shifted somewhere around the halfway point, when I could finally see a connection forming and Luca found his footing as both a lead and a lover, I was never rooting for them. I wasn’t invested. And that’s really the crux of the issue here, I think. Everything else I could say comes back to this.
Well, almost everything. If there’s one thing I loved in both books, it was seeing the other Windsors come together to support the two leads when the going got rough. They’ve got such a great dynamic. I love the siblings, and how wholly they welcomed first Raven and now Val into their circle. This might well be my favorite part of these books, and I’m looking so forward to more of these moments as I continue the series.
On the other hand, if there’s one thing I didn’t love in either book, it’s Grandma’s actions in the final third. Once again, I’ve got beef with Grandma.
Alright, I think I’m about done. This book wasn’t inherently good or bad, but it also wasn’t anything I’d hoped it would be. I really hope I enjoy the next one more.
Current ranking of the series:
- The Wrong Bride (I strongly suspect this one will be my favorite)
- The Temporary Wife
Representation:
- Latina protagonist and side characters (one is also disabled, and uses a cane and wheelchair)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity and Medical content
Minor: Abandonment
Sexual content is explicit but consensual. One protagonist lost both parents as a child, and the other had one parent walk out. One protagonist’s grandmother is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and given home caretakers. (It’s Val’s abuela. She dies in the last third of the book, off-page. Val attends her funeral, and grief sends her into a deep depression. ) There are also discussions of past infidelity across multiple relationships, relating to both protagonists and one’s parents, and how that’s affected each of them.
The Wrong Bride by Catharina Maura
HE’S SO SWEET. And the two of them together are so adorable. Even after finishing the book, thinking of them puts the cheesiest grin on my face. 🧁🩷
Moving past my mushy feelings, one thing that seriously impressed me was how well these two communicated with one another. They talked through their issues, listened and empathized with one another, and handled everything maturely. Not once was an issue blown out of proportion or exploited for drama, and it was so refreshing.
The only thing that really bothered me was in the last third of the book, when one character went completely against the values they’d been preaching until that point.Grandma insisted on taking Hannah in because she was pregnant with the first next-gen Windsor, because of the importance of family. But she knows how horrible Hannah and the Du Pont parents are to Raven, who she says she loves like one of her own and has for a long time, long before she married Ares. Now Raven is actually a Windsor, she’s actually a part of this family that’s supposed to prioritize each other above all else, and Grandma chooses Hannah instead? She has Hannah move in with Raven and Ares and tells them to “work through their issues”, as if it’s that simple? When she knows neither of them want it, and the situation will devastate Raven? What the hell??? This woman is the matriarch of the family, and it had been said more than once that she ruled it with an iron fist. It would’ve been so easy for her to tell Hannah no. To tell her that she gets nothing from them because she walked away from Ares. That she isn’t a Windsor, they don’t accept her or her child as a Windsor, the only children accepted as legitimate will be Raven’s, and she needs to leave and not come back. In my opinion, it’s what she should’ve done. I admit, seeing the siblings come together to support Raven in the aftermath was sweet, as was her reunion with Ares, and seeing him put Hannah in her place once and for all was immensely satisfying, but still. Grandma should’ve nipped this in the bud before it could get so horrible, and I’m disappointed she didn’t.
Other than that? 10/10. I remember thinking a couple of times that things with Hannah felt a bit formulaic—that every time Raven and Ares were happy, she would show up like clockwork to be a meddling asshole, Raven would start to doubt, and Ares would do whatever he could to reassure her. I remember wondering, each of those times, if I thought the book deserved five stars. Now, having finished it, having fallen so in love with the characters and had such a fun time reading, I’ve decided I don’t care. It made me feel a full range of emotions, it had me excited to read—something that’s only just coming back after far too long away—and that’s enough. That more than makes up for the rest.
I’m so glad I took a chance on this book, I really am. Catharina Maura is a damn good writer, and I can’t wait to read more from her. If the rest of the Windsor books are anywhere near as delightful, I can easily see her becoming a new favorite. I plan to marathon them here soon and find out. Fingers crossed!
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was a random KU pick I started without any expectations, just some hope for a fun time, and it took me completely by surprise. The characters were so well-written, Raven and Ares’s chemistry so incredible, that I was hooked by the end of chapter two. I can’t remember the last time that happened. I proceeded to devour the rest of the book in less than two days, my other current read and all other hobbies pushed aside because I needed to know what happened next. It was such an unbelievably fun time and one hell of a wild ride, and I loved it.
Raven gives me Stella vibes (from Ana Huang’s Twisted Lies), and Stella is one of my favorite romance leads, so I loved that. Her dynamic with Ares felt reminiscent of Stella’s with Christian in the best way, despite Ares essentially being Christian’s polar opposite. I want to say “maybe that’s why I loved them so much”, but I don’t think they needed any help. The thrill of watching them fall in love and eventually realize the full extent of their feelings was more than enough, no comparisons needed. I especially loved Ares’s side of the story, because he was so obviously smitten from the get-go and only grew to adore her more as time passed. Romance men simping for their woman is my favorite thing, and he absolutely delivered.
Raven gives me Stella vibes (from Ana Huang’s Twisted Lies), and Stella is one of my favorite romance leads, so I loved that. Her dynamic with Ares felt reminiscent of Stella’s with Christian in the best way, despite Ares essentially being Christian’s polar opposite. I want to say “maybe that’s why I loved them so much”, but I don’t think they needed any help. The thrill of watching them fall in love and eventually realize the full extent of their feelings was more than enough, no comparisons needed. I especially loved Ares’s side of the story, because he was so obviously smitten from the get-go and only grew to adore her more as time passed. Romance men simping for their woman is my favorite thing, and he absolutely delivered.
I'm not worthy of her, but for as long I live, I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure she never realizes it. I'm going to make her so happy that the future ahead of us always overshadows the past that haunts us. For the rest of our lives, I'll show her what it's like to truly be someone's priority, because that's what she is to me.
She's everything.
HE’S SO SWEET. And the two of them together are so adorable. Even after finishing the book, thinking of them puts the cheesiest grin on my face. 🧁🩷
Moving past my mushy feelings, one thing that seriously impressed me was how well these two communicated with one another. They talked through their issues, listened and empathized with one another, and handled everything maturely. Not once was an issue blown out of proportion or exploited for drama, and it was so refreshing.
The only thing that really bothered me was in the last third of the book, when one character went completely against the values they’d been preaching until that point.
Other than that? 10/10. I remember thinking a couple of times that things with Hannah felt a bit formulaic—that every time Raven and Ares were happy, she would show up like clockwork to be a meddling asshole, Raven would start to doubt, and Ares would do whatever he could to reassure her. I remember wondering, each of those times, if I thought the book deserved five stars. Now, having finished it, having fallen so in love with the characters and had such a fun time reading, I’ve decided I don’t care. It made me feel a full range of emotions, it had me excited to read—something that’s only just coming back after far too long away—and that’s enough. That more than makes up for the rest.
I’m so glad I took a chance on this book, I really am. Catharina Maura is a damn good writer, and I can’t wait to read more from her. If the rest of the Windsor books are anywhere near as delightful, I can easily see her becoming a new favorite. I plan to marathon them here soon and find out. Fingers crossed!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Pregnancy
Sexual content is explicit but consensual. One protagonist has a very toxic, emotionally abusive family that’s actively involved in her life. There’s a pregnancy revelation from a side character (Hannah ) in the final third of the book.
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I spent a lot of time thinking about how to rate this book while reading the second half of it, and have finally settled on a four. Because, yeah, I had some issues, but it was fun to read. A whole lot of fun, right when I needed it most.
Said issues range from petty complaints about the love interest’s name to genuine criticisms of the protagonist and certain scenes. Most all of the holiday royals we meet or see mentioned have solid names that also serve as subtle nods to their respective holiday, and Hex seems rather lame in comparison. It feels more like a name for a black cat, or for someone’s goth OC whose main personality trait is Being Goth, than one for an actual character you want people to take seriously. I can’t help but think there are a multitude of Halloween-themed or related names that would’ve been better.
Moving from petty to genuine, I never got attached to Coal the way I did to Hex, Kris and Iris. I can’t pinpoint exactly what I disliked about him, if anything, or if something got in the way of me liking him. All I know is that, while his character development was quite impressive, he didn’t make a lasting impression on me like the others did. He was just… there. My favorite thing about him was the interactions he had with characters I did like. I know that sounds bad, and I feel bad about it, but it’s true.
Continuing that, I have what might well be the oddest critique of a book I’ve ever made—the sex scenes were incredibly vague. I don’t mean this in an “I’m disappointed they weren’t spicier” way. I mean, quite literally, they were vague, and it was weird. Not a single mention of any words one might expect in such scenes, anatomical or otherwise. On multiple occasions, I had to reread paragraphs to figure out exactly what was going on, and I’ve read enough filthy smut that I really don’t think it was a me problem. It felt like the author was afraid of giving too much detail, so she tried to give as little as possible instead. I think she would’ve been better off writing fade-to-black, and then some cute cuddle scenes afterward. I would’ve been perfectly happy with that. In fact, I would’ve been thrilled. (Honestly, I’m salty we didn’t get any cute cuddle scenes in the book as is. I wanted to see the boys being soft, and I was denied. Rude.)
And yet, I did still enjoy the book. Coal and Hex had great chemistry, and I loved watching them fall in love. There was considerably more plot and world-building than I was expecting, which was a nice surprise. A hidden world of holiday kingdoms nestled within our own is such a fun idea, one I believe was set up quite well, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of other holidays in future books.
I also really, really hope I get to see more of Hex, because I adore him. I liked him as soon as he was introduced, and then I read a bit more, and suddenly, he was my favorite character. I don’t know what happened, only that he’s a precious cinnamon roll that absolutely must be protected. And I would really like to be his friend. And give him a hug. 🖤🖤🖤
Representation:
Said issues range from petty complaints about the love interest’s name to genuine criticisms of the protagonist and certain scenes. Most all of the holiday royals we meet or see mentioned have solid names that also serve as subtle nods to their respective holiday, and Hex seems rather lame in comparison. It feels more like a name for a black cat, or for someone’s goth OC whose main personality trait is Being Goth, than one for an actual character you want people to take seriously. I can’t help but think there are a multitude of Halloween-themed or related names that would’ve been better.
Moving from petty to genuine, I never got attached to Coal the way I did to Hex, Kris and Iris. I can’t pinpoint exactly what I disliked about him, if anything, or if something got in the way of me liking him. All I know is that, while his character development was quite impressive, he didn’t make a lasting impression on me like the others did. He was just… there. My favorite thing about him was the interactions he had with characters I did like. I know that sounds bad, and I feel bad about it, but it’s true.
Continuing that, I have what might well be the oddest critique of a book I’ve ever made—the sex scenes were incredibly vague. I don’t mean this in an “I’m disappointed they weren’t spicier” way. I mean, quite literally, they were vague, and it was weird. Not a single mention of any words one might expect in such scenes, anatomical or otherwise. On multiple occasions, I had to reread paragraphs to figure out exactly what was going on, and I’ve read enough filthy smut that I really don’t think it was a me problem. It felt like the author was afraid of giving too much detail, so she tried to give as little as possible instead. I think she would’ve been better off writing fade-to-black, and then some cute cuddle scenes afterward. I would’ve been perfectly happy with that. In fact, I would’ve been thrilled. (Honestly, I’m salty we didn’t get any cute cuddle scenes in the book as is. I wanted to see the boys being soft, and I was denied. Rude.)
And yet, I did still enjoy the book. Coal and Hex had great chemistry, and I loved watching them fall in love. There was considerably more plot and world-building than I was expecting, which was a nice surprise. A hidden world of holiday kingdoms nestled within our own is such a fun idea, one I believe was set up quite well, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of other holidays in future books.
I also really, really hope I get to see more of Hex, because I adore him. I liked him as soon as he was introduced, and then I read a bit more, and suddenly, he was my favorite character. I don’t know what happened, only that he’s a precious cinnamon roll that absolutely must be protected. And I would really like to be his friend. And give him a hug. 🖤🖤🖤
Representation:
- bisexual protagonist
- queer love interest and side character (no labels used, both attracted to multiple genders)
- Black bisexual side character
- Black side character
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Abandonment
Minor: Death, Sexual content, and Car accident
The protagonist’s mom walked out when he was a child, and the effects of this on him and his family are discussed throughout. The love interest’s sister died in a car accident prior to the story, and his grief plays a decent part in his overall character. Beyond those things, there are a couple of sex/sex-adjacent scenes, and while none of them are fade to black, all of them are vague. In all honesty, they’re vague enough that including the tag almost doesn’t feel necessary at all, but I’ll do it anyway.
The Demon's Queen by Katee Robert
My ranking has absolutely nothing to do with how often Ramanu shows up in each book. That’s just a funny little coincidence.
Representation:
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I’ve been so curious about this book for so long. As it turns out, it wasn’t in any way what I expected, but quite entertaining all the same. I like Eve. I like Azazel. I really like their dynamic, even if some of the finer details had me skeptical for a while. Katee made the whole thing work in the end, I enjoyed the ride, and the ending was cute, too. That’s enough for me.
Also, we got more Ramanu in this book than we have in any of the others aside from their own, and it was DELIGHTFUL. They are truly the star of this series, as far as I’m concerned. (And I Did Not expect them to show up with Lenora at the end?! THE WAY I LOST MY MIND. I need to go reread their book YESTERDAY.)
Final ranking of the series:
Also, we got more Ramanu in this book than we have in any of the others aside from their own, and it was DELIGHTFUL. They are truly the star of this series, as far as I’m concerned. (And I Did Not expect them to show up with Lenora at the end?! THE WAY I LOST MY MIND. I need to go reread their book YESTERDAY.)
Final ranking of the series:
- The Demon’s Bargain (Of course my babies won; no one can ever compare)
- The Succubus’s Prize/The Demon’s Queen (I like Eve more than Belladonna but Rusalka more than Azazel)
- The Kraken’s Sacrifice/The Gargoyle’s Captive (Kraken had better characters but Gargoyle had better smut)
- The Dragon’s Bride (Good, but I’ve largely forgotten about it)
Representation:
- bi/pansexual protagonists
- two nonbinary side characters that use they/them (one major, one minor)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Gore and Violence
I use “kidnapping” and “confinement” loosely, but technically they’re true. Eve is brought to the castle against her will, and can’t leave because her life is in danger. This causes one intense panic attack roughly halfway through, though she is talked through it and doesn’t come to any harm. Beyond that, sexual content is explicit but consensual. There’s a fight at the end of the book that results in one fighter’s heart being ripped out, which, thankfully, isn’t given too much attention.
The Succubus's Prize by Katee Robert
Above all else, I love this quote. It might be my favorite Katee quote that isn’t snarky banter or a spicy comeback. I’ll definitely be taking it with me into the new year. 🧡
Beyond that, this had all the makings of a five-star read, except that I never truly got attached to it. I love Belladonna and Rusalka, but I don’t love them. I enjoyed their story and their romance, but I never went feral over it.(Not like I did with Lenora and Ramanu, who I now miss more than ever.) That’s not a bad thing, either, it just means not-quite-as-high of a rating.
I did quite like the setup for the next book, though. I’m so curious about Eve. 👀
Current ranking of the series:
Representation:
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
“What your world calls perfection is boring. It’s the so-called flaws that make us who we are. It’s the flaws and the bumps and bruises that make you perfect, little one. You’re stronger for them, and that is true perfection.”
Above all else, I love this quote. It might be my favorite Katee quote that isn’t snarky banter or a spicy comeback. I’ll definitely be taking it with me into the new year. 🧡
Beyond that, this had all the makings of a five-star read, except that I never truly got attached to it. I love Belladonna and Rusalka, but I don’t love them. I enjoyed their story and their romance, but I never went feral over it.
I did quite like the setup for the next book, though. I’m so curious about Eve. 👀
Current ranking of the series:
- The Demon’s Bargain (Lenora and Ramanu supremacy)
- The Succubus’s Prize (A solid second favorite)
- The Kraken’s Sacrifice/The Gargoyle’s Captive (Kraken had better characters but Gargoyle had better smut)
- The Dragon’s Bride (Good but I’ve largely forgotten about it)
Representation:
- full bi/pansexual non-monogamous cast (no labels mentioned, but all are attracted to multiple genders; no one seems to be polyam, but all engage in ethical non-monogamy)
- genderfluid/nonbinary protagonist and side characters (all of the succubi and incubi are shapeshifters that don’t follow our gender binary; one protagonist uses she/they pronouns, one side character uses they/them, and another uses ze/zir)
- nonbinary side character that uses they/them (and is not a succubus or incubus)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Body shaming and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer
Sexual content is explicit, sometimes involving a group of people, but always consensual. Beyond that, the book deals heavily with overcoming religious trauma, including the concepts of sex and desire as sins and that a woman’s purpose is to marry and have children. The protagonist’s sister has cancer, though she never appears on-page and her diagnosis is only briefly mentioned.
King of Sloth by Ana Huang
My Ana Huang holy trinity, which finally exists after this book: King of Pride, King of Sloth, Twisted Lies. 💜💙💚
I’m not gonna reread, I’m not gonna reread, I’m not gonna reread……
Representation:
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book met and exceeded every single one of my expectations. Sloane and Xavier were delightful from the very first page, and got progressively more adorable. I’m gonna be thinking about these two for days. 💙💙 (It doesn’t hurt that they give off MAJOR Sydrian vibes, aka one of my absolute favorite fictional couples.)
The only thing that could’ve made this book better was a Kai and Isa wedding. IT WAS THE ONE THING I WANTED, ANA.
Okay, but seriously. We’ve seen Viv and Dante get married, Alé and Dom get divorced and remarried, but Kai and Isa’s wedding is off-page?? And we find out in the epilogue that said wedding was only weeks after this book’s main story ends?? RUDE. And, to top it off, we don’t even get to see Xavi and Sloane engaged. I feel denied!!! 🥲🥲
On another note, I won’t lie—I’m skeptical about the next book. I don’t know either Vuk or Ayana enough to care about them, and I feel like Vuk is such a strange choice for a lead. I knew we’d have to leave the squad eventually, given how long the series is going to be, but I just. I don’t know. I’m gonna need some convincing on this one.
One more thing. At the very end, Xavi mentions Alex discovered the saboteur’s identity but wouldn’t share it, and all we got was it’s someone from a mercenary group that’s targeting the wealthy. I’d bet my nonexistent money that it’s Roman, and we haven’t seen the last of him yet. 👀
Updated series ranking:
Updated series ranking:
- King of Pride (forever my babies)
- King of Sloth (my new babies)
- King of Greed (good but not as good)
- King of Wrath (suck it Dante)
My Ana Huang holy trinity, which finally exists after this book: King of Pride, King of Sloth, Twisted Lies. 💜💙💚
Representation:
- Colombian protagonist and side characters
- Chinese side characters (one is half-Filipina)
- demisexual Brazilian side character
- side character with CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Sexual content is explicit but wholly consensual. One character’s father was previously diagnosed with cancer and dies from it on-page. Both characters lost their mothers previously as well, one to a house fire and one (I believe) to an equestrian accident. Both characters dealt with emotional abuse throughout and beyond childhood, and one had a long-term partner cheat on them.
Midnight Ruin by Katee Robert
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I’ve been desperately waiting for this book ever since Eurydice and Charon showed up at the house party in Radiant Sin, and it did not disappoint!! No criticisms, no complaints, these three are perfect and I adore them!!! 💜🖤💙
And to say the plot thickens would be an understatement… this book had me STRESSED. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: I can’t even begin to imagine the state of everything by the time the series is over, and that terrifies me.
I’m so glad Hades said ENOUGH and closed off the lower city. I can’t have anything happening to him, Persephone or their lil babies. BUT WHY didn’t y’all bring in a few more people first?? I get that Callisto couldn’t have come, and Demeter probably wouldn’t have, but what about Psyche and Eros?? Or Apollo and Cassandra, for Orpheus’s sake?? THEY NEED TO BE SAFE TOO.
And speaking of, I don’t know what Callisto is up to, but I don’t like it. My current theory is that she’s helping Circe and Minos somehow?? My first thought was maybe she was the benefactor, but now I’m just wondering if she’s willing to be an agent from the inside. She would be all too happy to watch Olympus burn, and if she agreed to help, she could probably negotiate safety for her family…
Representation:
And to say the plot thickens would be an understatement… this book had me STRESSED. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: I can’t even begin to imagine the state of everything by the time the series is over, and that terrifies me.
And speaking of, I don’t know what Callisto is up to, but I don’t like it. My current theory is that she’s helping Circe and Minos somehow?? My first thought was maybe she was the benefactor, but now I’m just wondering if she’s willing to be an agent from the inside. She would be all too happy to watch Olympus burn, and if she agreed to help, she could probably negotiate safety for her family…
Representation:
- three bi/pansexual polyamorous protagonists (includes a Black woman and a Swedish-Korean man)
- MMF main throuple
- sapphic side couple
- various POC, queer and/or fat side characters (includes sapphic, bisexual & pansexual rep, nonbinary rep/use of neopronouns, as well as Black, Korean & South Asian rep)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion
Sexual content is explicit but entirely consensual. One side character is pregnant, another gets an off-page abortion. Murder is discussed but doesn’t occur on-page. Everything else is most prominent in the final third of the book, alongside an explosion and some severe injuries.
Twisted Lies by Ana Huang
And so did the letters. Good grief. Those were a sucker punch to the gut.
I have to give Christian genuine kudos for respecting Stella’s boundaries after the breakup. He left her alone in every sense of the phrase, wrote about his feelings, even managed to turn the whole thing into a semi-romantic gesture in the end… I think that’s the most mature way a guy in this series has ever handled a relationship crisis.
(Yes, I’m looking at you, Alex.)
Also, on a less-than-impressed note, the fact that Stella was about to die and her ~big realization~ was that Christian would never drug or kidnap her like Julian did and so he’s The One… are you kidding me??? Girlie, that’s the absolute bare minimum in a relationship. The bar is so low, it’s underground. Sigh.
Final series ranking:
Representation:
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love Stella and Christian. I love them so much. But I hate what Christian did; it’s creepy as hell. I hate the whole act three breakup, and honestly, most of the very end of the book. It felt like Ana was trying to do too much, trying to turn a romance into a thriller, and it ruined the vibe of what otherwise would’ve been a perfect book.
I mean that, too. I was having such a blast from the very first page, and up till all of that crap started, I was convinced I had finally found another Ana book I loved as much as King of Pride.
I mean that, too. I was having such a blast from the very first page, and up till all of that crap started, I was convinced I had finally found another Ana book I loved as much as King of Pride.
Way to burst that bubble, Harper.
But, I’ll admit, the scenes with the whole crew were highly entertaining, and all of the epilogue and bonus scene stuff was absolutely adorable. As is the fact that he calls her Butterfly. That got me in the feels every time, without fail. 💚
(Yes, I’m looking at you, Alex.)
Also, on a less-than-impressed note, the fact that Stella was about to die and her ~big realization~ was that Christian would never drug or kidnap her like Julian did and so he’s The One… are you kidding me??? Girlie, that’s the absolute bare minimum in a relationship. The bar is so low, it’s underground. Sigh.
Final series ranking:
- Twisted Lies (despite everything)
- Twisted Love/Twisted Hate
- Twisted Games
Representation:
- multiracial protagonist with anxiety (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)
- fat side character
- Chinese-American side characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Stalking
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Suicide
Sexual content is explicit but consensual. One protagonist has a stalker that sends her ominous notes and candid photos of herself, even breaks into her apartment at one point while she’s out. It’s the cause of at least one panic attack, that I can recall. Kidnapping and gun violence are also related to the stalker, contained specifically in the last quarter of the book, as are the rest of the tags in the moderate category. It’s also mentioned a few times that one protagonist’s mother previously took her life in a particularly violent way.
Twisted Hate by Ana Huang
Representation:
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The biggest plot twist is that Alex is my favorite of the guys in this series so far. And that he continues to grow on me. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it.
Overall, this was fun. I’d say it’s tied with Love for my favorite so far. I like Jules more than Ava, but Alex more than Josh. I think J+J’s relationship arc is more realistic, but A+A’s dynamic is more entertaining.
The best part, though, hands down, was seeing the stage set for the next book, which is unabashedly the reason I’ve read the others. Christian is so whipped already and it’s delightful. ( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛)
Current series ranking:
Overall, this was fun. I’d say it’s tied with Love for my favorite so far. I like Jules more than Ava, but Alex more than Josh. I think J+J’s relationship arc is more realistic, but A+A’s dynamic is more entertaining.
The best part, though, hands down, was seeing the stage set for the next book, which is unabashedly the reason I’ve read the others. Christian is so whipped already and it’s delightful. ( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛)
Current series ranking:
- Twisted Love/Twisted Hate
- Twisted Games
Representation:
- fat protagonist
- Chinese-American protagonist & side character
- multiracial side character (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)
- lesbian side character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug abuse, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Sexual content is explicit but always consensual. Sexual harassment is of one protagonist by a side character, in the form of using a sex tape as blackmail. There are mentions of death, near-death situations and child abuse from the protagonists’ pasts, and of blood and various injuries due to one of them working as an ER doctor. Things tagged minor are the methods of various deaths mentioned over the course of the book. It’s also mentioned that a side character was almost drowned as a child.
Twisted Games by Ana Huang
Representation:
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I didn’t think I’d find an Ana book that I disliked more than King of Wrath, but sadly, I did. And I really am sad about it, because through the entire first half, I was having such a blast with this book. I thought it would end up a favorite alongside King of Pride. But Rhys’ possessive temper tantrums got really old really fast, and then I was decidedly not having a blast.
It also doesn’t help that, the more I think about it, the more I realize that Bridget and Rhys have absolutely nothing to base a relationship on. All they ever do is screw around. Ana’s other couples have foundations upon which their relationships are built, but these two are just lust. Their story is just smut. Like if you took the vibes of Princess Diaries 2, combined with the vibes of Red White and Royal Blue, but replaced 90% of the plots with (rather repetitive) smut.
And damn, is it disappointing.
Extra half star for the first half, though, because it was fun while it lasted. And the teasing glimpses of future couples have made the rest (nearly) worth it.
Current series ranking:
It also doesn’t help that, the more I think about it, the more I realize that Bridget and Rhys have absolutely nothing to base a relationship on. All they ever do is screw around. Ana’s other couples have foundations upon which their relationships are built, but these two are just lust. Their story is just smut. Like if you took the vibes of Princess Diaries 2, combined with the vibes of Red White and Royal Blue, but replaced 90% of the plots with (rather repetitive) smut.
And damn, is it disappointing.
Extra half star for the first half, though, because it was fun while it lasted. And the teasing glimpses of future couples have made the rest (nearly) worth it.
Current series ranking:
- Twisted Love (I’m shocked too)
- Twisted Games (I’m sad)
Representation:
- Chinese-American side characters
- fat side character
- multiracial side character (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence and Medical content
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, and War
Sexual content is frequent and explicit but always consensual. There’s one scene early on of a near mass shooting, but the shooter is stopped. There are a few scenes in a hospital due to one protagonist’s grandfather having a heart condition, but he does pull through each time. Everything tagged minor refers to past events, including one protagonist losing a parent to childbirth and a parent to a car accident, and the other protagonist losing a parent to drug overdose. There are also brief mentions of war scenes due to one protagonist being an ex-Navy SEAL.