NereidNina

{I read Throne of Glass & Crown of Midnight first}

Revisado: 03-24-25

This book- despite knowing how it ends- definitely made me *feel* more than the other two in the series thus far. I don’t think I would have cared at all about Celaena or the other characters if I didn’t have the context of the other books. It would have seemed a sequence of events to people I wasn’t yet invested in.

It took me until near the end of Crown of Midnight to really connect with her, but I’m glad I did before this book. Her vanity and hubris made it harder for me to root for her in the first two. But by the time of reading this compilation, I was grounded in her corner- cheering her on, fighting with her, and mourning her losses… even if they were exacerbated by her own hand.

Reading this 3rd did create an annoying pause for a “flashback episode” when I was ready to dive into the next action after Crown of Midnight. But I knew it would give me important context, so I followed publication order. I’m very glad I did.

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Embroidering wonders, but not with fingers unpricked.

Revisado: 03-08-25

I am diving headlong into my Fantasy of Manners Era, and I’m glad this book was there. It was a lovely story, and I truly enjoyed the way her magical skills worked. The writing was often lyrical, though the expression of affection was never quite as devastating as we love in a Regency affair. But the yearning was still excellent as the odds stacked ever higher.

The world is an obvious facsimile of our own, and I feel like the author just renamed actual places to keep the Historical Accuracy Police at bay in their reviews.

Despite it being a facsimile in a fantasy world, the political disputes of the royals within the story felt too much informed by policies of the here and now; they were the opposite of immersive for me. Some may find this to be the kind of world building they desire, but I find it jarring and distracting when the political discourse feels too modern.

🎧 The audio narrator was enchanting, endearing the FMC to me more with her sweet Irish accent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for audio.

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The most Yearning I’ve felt in ages.

Revisado: 02-15-25

This was nearly a 6/5⭐️ read for me- I loved it that much! The writing style was delicious to devour and encapsulated so much of what I love in a “Fantasy of Manners” book. There was a love triangle with two very charming suitors, and a devilish fae queen prompting evil obstacles for our FMC. All of the characters were so wonderfully layered with complex relationships among themselves where love and hate intermingle.

I did think that one twist was out of character & created some plot holes, but it didn’t undo the chokehold this book had on me.

The narrators were perfectly cast and lent such truth to the characters portrayed.

There was mystery and intrigue, but best of all, the YEARNING was outstanding!! I was genuinely moved to tears more than once, aching for these characters I now love to get what they want most.

🔥- There is one open-door scene in this book. That may be of interest for other readers to know, since this is marketed as YA. I don’t consider this a spoiler, since it may be real or a dream sequence, and I’m not telling which.

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Well-written and performed, with one exception.

Revisado: 10-24-24

This is a detective thriller loosely based on real-life events surrounding the death of someone I knew in real life. Having seen the way it rocked our community, it was very interesting to see such a story from a wider lens. The author treated the real facts with delicacy and respect, while forging in enough fiction to acknowledge the gaps in what we can actually know about this tragedy. Ultimately, she wove a tale of hope and the boundless power of love in all its forms.

The main male audiobook narrator would only receive 1/5⭐️ from me as he was stoic and detached for passages, then rendered the worst sort of “drunk” intonations we see from novice actors, and he also insisted on giving Carolina southern accents to the unsophisticated characters. Michigan has its own variation of rednecks, but their accent- though distinct- has no southern drawl. This story deserved better than his lazy caricatures.

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Not what I was expecting.

Revisado: 10-16-24

I thought this would be a fun little rom com between my darker Halloween reads. But it was light almost to the point of empty.

Pros:
+ Quick, mostly fun read
+ Charming concept
+ I met the author at a local bookish event, and she is delightful.

Cons:
- The audiobook narrator makes the old-fashioned speech of the vampire seem stilted and unnatural, rather than just anachronistic. It makes him seem unintelligent, rather than out of his element.
- Too many dialog exchanges between Cassie & the vampire are repeating what the other person said back to them in question form, rather than asking for clarification another way. Again, it seems unlikely they would both have this tendency, if their language patterns are separated by centuries.
- I learned in reading this book that I don’t like insecure lead females in my romance. So much of Cassie’s interactions with everyone are wound tight by her insecurity, and it does not render her endearing when she takes innocuous things so personally.
-I nearlyDNF’d, but was so close to finishing that I did so just for the book “body count”.

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Hit the right points for me!

Revisado: 10-10-24

Lisa Kleypas always delivers, and this one hit some bright points among my favorite tropes (letter writing, clever historical females, dominant make) that endeared this one to me all the more. She has a poetic way with intimate scenes that doesn’t jar you out of the historical setting, as some authors do (I hate the use of medical or modern terminology in fantasy/historical settings). Most of her books also feature an action sequence of some sort- an escalated danger or problem, and I do feel like the action moment in this story was gratuitous and far too easily resolved. It’s okay if sometimes the relationship itself is the plot. Regarding narration, I must say that Mary Jane Wells is a far superior narrator for Ms. Keypas’ style, but this one is alright.

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Gothic Romance served up right!!!

Revisado: 10-02-24

Kaylie Smith served up Gothic Romance on a platter, and I ate every bite. 🥄 This book has the deliciously dark fantasy vibes, tucked into a mysterious Gothic manor with hidden rooms. Our protagonist was multi-faceted and forced to face the consequences of her dangerous choices. Our leading man was a charmingly relentless flirt with a protective side. Though not scary to me, this really was exactly the book I wanted to read going into the spooky season. — My only real complaint is that, on the audiobook version (the narrator is stunning), she chose to heighten the southern accents almost exclusively for the horrible, hateful characters. That’s a tired narrative choice that reinforces negative stereotypes. 🙄

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Stellar delivery of a standout story

Revisado: 04-05-24

The narration was thoughtful and reflective of this endearing story in a setting I haven’t quite seen in fantasy before. I love that Iris’s mother was complicated, even if imperfect. I’m a sucker for stories with letter writing, but the magical link in this story was also singular and poetic.

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The most charmingly wistful tale

Revisado: 05-23-23

This novel was exactly what I had hoped it would be- an enchanting mix of repressed regency romance and magical misadventure. At first, I thought the narrator's tone seemed slightly detached for the protagonist, but then I saw how perfectly she was capturing the expression of a girl with half a soul. It has been my favorite read of the year, as it delivered exactly what was promised and in the most delightful manner. I'll be starting the next book forthwith!

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Kate Morton shines again

Revisado: 02-08-22

I have become enamored of Kate Morton’s poetic prose, but this was the first of her books to make me cry. I felt connection in the beautifully bittersweet, which is no minor task for a writer. Ms. Lee’s accents sometimes feel amiss, but she has an impeccable sense of delivering the emotion as penned by Morton.

Bravo to both!

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