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rachelisathomas22's reviews
342 reviews

These Gentle Wolves by Clare Sager

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Stolen Threadwitch Bride by Clare Sager

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Open Minded by Chloe Seager

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emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you to the publisher William Morrow and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall 4/5 star read for me.

Open Minded by Chloe Seager is a book with gumption and heart. Two women, Holly and Fliss, find themselves in each other’s position at the start of the book and bond over their role reversal as they navigate their new relationship status. Holly finds herself begrudgingly beginning an open relationship after her boyfriend of almost a decade says this is how they can move forward, and Fliss finds herself in a newly exclusive relationship after three years in an open relationship. What ensues is a delightful exploration of what constitutes a good relationship and how do we find out what we need for ourselves.

I enjoyed both Holly and Fliss as characters and thought the author did a good job helping them grow throughout the story. These are not perfect women; they are messy and stubborn and kind and anxious which make them feel well rounded and interesting to read about. The romantic leads were intriguing and fulfilled their intended purposes well. I loved the other pieces of both of these women’s lives, like their friends, families, and professional lives that contributed to each of their stories.

The biggest reason this is not a five star read for me is there were a few points throughout the book, especially with Holly’s arc, that felt a bit too obvious. I personally would have enjoyed a bit more unraveling to discover certain truths/reveals. This is truly a personal preference as a reader for an already enjoyable read.

The Other Side of the Mirror by Dana Evyn

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

Thank you to City Owl Press and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Our main character Eva, traumatized by the death of her family seven years ago, slowly begins to discover there was more to her family’s death and her destiny than she realized. With new companions she meets along the way, she journeys to find the truth and save the world from an evil curse. Twists and turns as romances and friendships are tested and truths are finally revealed.

The plot was the strongest part of the story for me. The author had clear intentions to set up the foundation for a trilogy and give readers enough world building and stakes to continue the story past here. While some of the exposition felt heavy at times in the book, there is a clear picture and direction for where we are going. The magical system and different magical elements that come into play are interesting and keep the reader interested and wanting to know more while still being simple enough for readers to understand how magic works without having to repeat it too many times.

This is a romantasy and it stays true to the genre. I felt the fantasy part was stronger than the romance part, which was a shame because the story tended to lean more into the romance than the fantasy. For me, the main issues with the romance elements were that it all felt too immediate and sudden. This does have strong elements of the fated mates trope, and the romance felt like it was built only on attraction and trauma. Other than their looks, tension, and trauma I don’t know if I could tell you much about the relationship of the main romance or much else about the characters.

I hope the book when published also includes a trigger warning for sexual assault.

Content Warnings