I want to start off by saying that this is not a badly written book. In fact, the writing is gorgeous. However, the book itDNF & 70%, SKIMMED THE REST
I want to start off by saying that this is not a badly written book. In fact, the writing is gorgeous. However, the book itself was just not for me—and I probably should have DNF’ed earlier when I realized this was going in the “literary horror” direction. The plot is almost nonexistent, the characters are fine but not very deep, and the romance could have been great but just ended up being boring. I feel like if this author made this more of a romance story, I would have really liked this. Unfortunately, this book is very “all vibes, no plot” and I just didn’t enjoy it. And again, this book was really well written and the “all vibes, no plot” will work for some people because of the writing. But it just didn’t work for me unfortunately....more
I take back most of what I said in my glowing review of book 1. I’m so sad about this book. It was a complete mess. The politics—which I loved in bookI take back most of what I said in my glowing review of book 1. I’m so sad about this book. It was a complete mess. The politics—which I loved in book 1–were all over the place, the pacing was slow and disjointed, the characters were boring compared to book 1, and the ultimate reunion of the MC’s was so lackluster that I just became angry that I slogged through so much nonsense go get to that part. Nothing about this was compelling, and it honestly felt like another author wrote it. I will not be continuing on with this series, unfortunately.
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wow…what a disappointment this was. anyways probably RTC I need to catch up so badly on reviews....more
I wasn’t expecting very much from this book after my slightly better-than-lukewarm feelings about book one, and I got exactly what I thought I was getI wasn’t expecting very much from this book after my slightly better-than-lukewarm feelings about book one, and I got exactly what I thought I was getting with Summoned to the Wilds. Book 1, Throne in the Dark, had an interesting set-up, but ultimately failed to wow me in any way. I enjoyed the characters, but found everything else about the story very lackluster. That’s exactly how I felt about this sequel. In fact, this book took me a good half a month to read because the story was just not captivating enough. I didn’t care much for where the plot was going, and I still find the world and magic system completely one-dimensional. My one big thing is that I do really like the characters as well as the two MC’s romance. I love how much Amma influences Damien to be better, and how utterly obsessed he is with her. So I will probably end up reading the last book just to finish off the series. The ending was interesting enough, and I’m kind of excited for this couple to finally get it on (because the slow burn was slowwww burning). But this is definitely not a fantasy romance series to write home about....more
“You broke me. And in the process I broke you. And now I fear the only way we will ever be whole again is together, all your jagged edges ne➸ 4 stars
“You broke me. And in the process I broke you. And now I fear the only way we will ever be whole again is together, all your jagged edges nestled against mine. I hate that I want that. But I do. I want to be whole with you.”
Tropes: ↬ Post-Apocalyptic Romance ↬ Fantasy/Paranormal Romance ↬ Dark Romance ↬ Mostly Singular POV; First Person ↬ Enemies to Lovers ↬ Captor/Captive ↬ Forced Allies to Lovers ↬ Life Debts ↬ Strong Sexual Tension
I’m really surprised that I’ve managed to almost complete an entire book series in a decent time frame. After book 2, War, I was super ready to hop right into book 3, which very rarely ever happens. I decided to go with the instinct though and I really ended up enjoying this one. There’s not much I can really say since this is pretty deeply connected to the last 2 books, but I will say I quite enjoyed this installment.
Ana was such a fearless and fun heroine. I feel like all the girls are very similar at this point, as are the overall plots (I’m not really going to fault Thalassa because how much different can you really make each book in a series about the apocalypse?) but I thought Ana was badass regardless. She’s a sex worker when the book starts, and is very unashamed about it. I thought it was a breath of fresh air to read about a heroine who does do sex work and doesn’t look down upon it (even thought it was forced on Ana at first unfortunately).
Famine was a great addition from his brothers and stood out the most as different. He has a very dry sense of humor, takes no bullshit, and is the most ruthless brother yet. His and Ana’s banter was delightful, especially when Ana kept trying to rile him up. The power play dynamics were a great addition too, and felt different from the other scenarios form books 1 and 2. And as always these books always tend to have a good ‘ol captor/captive situation, which is unabashedly one of my favorite fantasy couple tropes. This book was no different, and while it does follow the same type of formula’s from books 1 and 2, I’m trash so it still was worth the read.
Overall I really enjoyed this and I’m so excited for the finale of this series! I believe we’ll finally get the team up of all the brothers and the girls I’ve desperately been waiting for, and I can’t wait to see all the couples back together. This was a great addition to an already super fun series and I’ll be picking up the final book soon!
I’m definitely the outlier here, but this is my least favorite book in the series, so far. I really loved book 1, book 2 was great, book 3 was a h*3.5
I’m definitely the outlier here, but this is my least favorite book in the series, so far. I really loved book 1, book 2 was great, book 3 was a high 3, and this one is kind of middle of the road. I think my main issue with it this romance was that the MC’s issues were very easily solvable through communication—which unfortunately Rooney and Axel don’t have a lot of. Axel and Rooney just keep denying their feelings and for what? They were already married for conscience, and nothing was keeping them apart, not even past traumas really. There are no stakes, there is no forbiddeness to them. I just wondering why they were making such a big deal of staying away from each other. It made no sense. Rooney was also highly annoying, and I didn’t really love Axel either. These characters are just steeped in self-pity and a “woe is me” attitude, and it just wasn’t that enjoyable to read. The plot is flimsy, and nothing really happens.
I’m kind of confused by all the super high ratings, and grasping at what I missed. I think the only redeeming factor about this book was the family interactions and side characters, which is definitely Chloe Liese’s strength. But everything else, I didn’t really care for in this story. It wasn’t a terrible book, but it was my least favorite in this series so far....more
This was cute and fluffy! It definitely felt a little bit too cliché with all the NA tropes thrown in—which made me think the book was older than it wThis was cute and fluffy! It definitely felt a little bit too cliché with all the NA tropes thrown in—which made me think the book was older than it was—but the romance was so sweet, and the characters were pretty great! I loved Jordan and how attentive and loving he was towards (sweet) Daisy, and I loved Daisy’s character as well. She was such a sweetheart. The side characters were all pretty ehh, especially Violet, Daisy’s cousin and the FMC in the next book. So if the side characters were less annoying and the ending didn’t drag so much probably with the third act break up I probably would have given this a 4, but this was still a fun read. Very basic and simple but a nice palate cleanser....more
This one is definitely a red target for millennials. With a helping of cringe dialogue, repeatedly referring to Aly’s cat as their “child” and th*3.75
This one is definitely a red target for millennials. With a helping of cringe dialogue, repeatedly referring to Aly’s cat as their “child” and themselves as mommy and daddy (bleh), mentions of having masked tiktokers on your fyp, and also calling romance books “spicy books”. In spite of all that, this was surprisingly a good time? The characters were funny on their own, and especially together. The romance was great, the smut was good and the banter was hilarious. The plot was ridiculous, but in a fun way. My big complaint is this definitely veered into erotica territory in the second half which isn’t really my thing, not the books fault, but I felt like this couple had enough chemistry where I didn’t mind the constant sex. Overall, I get the hype!...more
First of all, take this review with a grain of salt because this may just be a me thing rather than the book. I’ve been in a pretty bad readiDNF @ 37%
First of all, take this review with a grain of salt because this may just be a me thing rather than the book. I’ve been in a pretty bad reading slump for the last few months, and haven’t wanted to pick up anything. Everything I have read, I didn’t like. So I really don’t know if it’s me or if it’s the book, but I was just genuinely bored out of my mind and couldn’t care less. The flashback sequences were ok, but everything else had me tuning out of the audiobook and having to rewind. I honestly don’t know if I will come back to this after my slump anyways because I didn’t really care about these characters or their romance. The MMC annoyed me so much, and the relationship the FMC had with her dad was lowkey triggering (as someone with unresolved daddy issues…) I think I’m just going to say this wasn’t for me and nothing else because this really wasn’t terrible in any way, I just truly was super bored....more
He breaks away from the kiss. “What have you done to me?” He whispers. “What have you done? Wife, wife, wife,” he murmurs against my skin.
Tro➸ 5 stars
He breaks away from the kiss. “What have you done to me?” He whispers. “What have you done? Wife, wife, wife,” he murmurs against my skin.
Tropes: ↬ Post-Apocalyptic Romance ↬ Fantasy/Paranormal Romance ↬ Dark Romance ↬ Singular POV; First Person ↬ One Sided Enemies to Lovers ↬ Captor/Captive ↬ Forced Marriage ↬ Strong Sexual Tension
It was really unexpected how much I loved War! The first book in this series, Pestilence I read and enjoyed, back in March. I gave it a high 3 or low 4, but I didn’t feel like it was amazing. Still, it was a fun read, with some really interesting concepts on religion, a pretty kickass heroine, a surprisingly sweet hero (after he finishes the torturing and threats of course), and very readable writing that managed to get me out a reading slump. Lately I’ve been feeling a little slumpy. I read a lot of 5 star books, and then the well seemed to dry with some really mediocre 3 stars. War was the perfect remedy for my incoming slump, and a 5 star itself!
This book has quite a different tone from book 1, which I was surprised by. The first book is more of an adventure/travel book with a much nicer hero, while this one has themes of rape, forced marriage between the main couple, and the MMC actually being acclimated in our world unlike Pestilence was. This one also had an even more badass heroine than book 1. Sara in book 1 is definitely a whiner (I love her, but we have to admit she was) while Miriam refuses to take any shit from anyone.
Miriam is taken as a hostage to War’s after she tries to kill him. He realizes she’s his fated wife, and Miriam is absolutely having none of it. She defies him at every turn, even when she’s starting to fall in love with him. She’s not as strong as some of the people at the camp, so she uses her words to manipulate people into doing what she wants. Miriam is also a badass with a sword, and even makes weapons. Like, how fucking cool is that? She doesn’t care people don’t like her, she’s a fighter and pretty much what you’d call “mother”.
The scorching hot sexual tension between Miriam and War was also perfect, and made the conflict between them so believable. Their banter was so intense, and their chemistry was leaping off the pages. War was so desperately irritated and equaling in love with Miriam and he would quite literally burn the world down for her (as he threatened to do more than once). His possessiveness over her, and the way she quite literally changed his entire world view, similarly to how Sara helped Pestilence learn mercy. The pussy was so good War learned kindness and empathy…I loved how Miriam also wouldn’t let go of her morals to be with War. She really gave him an ultimatum about being together, and War was so in love he just let it happen.
Anyways, this was so entertaining, and a delight to read. The main couple was equal parts amusing, hot, and nerve inducing. There was a lot of twists, turns, and unexpected drama that wasn’t at all present in book 1, and something I really hope will continue with book 3. It was really hard to believe Miriam and War would have a happy ending with all their back and forth and all the challenges they faced, but I’m so glad we got there and I can’t wait to read book 3.
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OH MY GOD??? I was not expecting this to be as good as it was, RTC...more
Hot, steamy, and fun. Read if you love daddy kink and dirty talk. Wish this felt more “taboo” though, the confrontation with the ex boyfriend is alwayHot, steamy, and fun. Read if you love daddy kink and dirty talk. Wish this felt more “taboo” though, the confrontation with the ex boyfriend is always my fave part of these types of romances and it was very lackluster in here. Also don’t listen to the audiobook, I was as dry as the Sahara listening, so I had to switch the ebook (:...more
This is definitely a hard book for me to rate. I was cautiously excited to read this book, but I really just felt the same way I did with book 1; *3.5
This is definitely a hard book for me to rate. I was cautiously excited to read this book, but I really just felt the same way I did with book 1; a little hotter than lukewarm. And these books aren’t bad books by any means. They’re just very “palate cleanser/you don’t have to think very hard” type of romances. This one has a slight enemies to lovers romance with a hero that’s not very redeemable, and a strong, resilient heroine. I think my main issue with this book was there was too much smut, not enough romantic build up, and non consistent characterization. The romance was fine, but it wasn’t something I actively rooted for—which is obviously a vital part of a romance novel. The hero was an asshole to the heroine, and doesn’t really redeem himself much at all. This was overall a fine book, but very easily forgettable....more
I loved another book by this author that I read this year, The Unwanted Wife, and I was really eager to try something else form Natasha Anders. T*3.75
I loved another book by this author that I read this year, The Unwanted Wife, and I was really eager to try something else form Natasha Anders. This is one is a little reminiscent of that book, with an asshole hero turned obsessed, and some intense groveling (which are two of my favorite things in romances). This one starts as boss/employee, which is another one of my favorite tropes, and also a brothers best friend story. It quickly deviates when the FMC figures out she’s pregnant, and then drama insues. The almost soap operaey antics, and heavy groveling was such a guilty pleasure for me, and I ended up also really liking the FMC in this one. The MMC didn’t grow on me very much by the end, unlike the MMC from The Unwanted Wife. The guy in here was just a little too mean and a little too late in the groveling for me to like him very much, unfortunately. Still, I enjoyed this story and all the drama that ensued, and I’m so excited to read from more the grovel queen, Natasha Anders....more
I really enjoyed one of this author’s other novels, The Bodyguard, and I was really excited to try more from her. Unfortunately, I really disDNF @ 51%
I really enjoyed one of this author’s other novels, The Bodyguard, and I was really excited to try more from her. Unfortunately, I really disliked Hello Stranger. I felt entirely unsympathetic for the female character, which was strange because objectively she had such a shitty deal of cards from life, but I just found her so shallow and annoying. I very rarely dislike female MC’s anymore, but I really just couldn’t stand this FMC. I also thought her hiding her face blindness was so dumb, and really made no sense. The only reason it was there was because the author used it as a shitty plot device to set up the less than stellar love triangle going on.
I also didn’t feel anything for the MMC(s?). Neither had any personality despite being over 50% into this book. I feel like this is more women’s fiction than romance, which is fine and is a genre I’m really enjoying as of late, but I don’t enjoy the genre when the FMC is unbearable to read about. This just wasn’t for me and I hate to say it since I adored The Bodyguard, but this was such a step down from that. I want to try more from this author still, including her backlist and other newer releases, but I was not a fan of this one and really couldn’t get into it....more
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