E > Recent Status Updates

I keep getting snippets of something that could be good. I really like collaborative magic systems and I think the mystery element combined with the trials is done far better than in something like the Raven Scholar. But there are too many characters that aren't being served well.

The car crashes and the nightmares have felt a little repetitive. I like the psychological horror in the bar where they are trying to figure out what is going on.

I am having a great time so far. Henry seems like the best.

I am struggling to get into this one, despite there being a murder right off the bat. I don't want to give up but maybe I have to switch to audio.

Still very funny and I still mostly really like the couple. The way their survival of the zombie apocalypse moves through all the dating milestones is cute. One person being way more experienced than the other person is just always going to a personal ick for me, even though it is pretty unproblematic in this context. So sometimes that gets in the way of enjoying the story.

This is amazing so far, incredibly hilarious. Then again I thought her last book would have been fantastic if it hadn't been ruined by the romance so I am trying not to get too hopeful. These two are actually cute though! I am cautiously optimistic.

I'm beginning to think I don't remember enough of the original series to be reading this.

The sad wine mom vibes are depressing. Honestly the wine stuff in general is over the top and what was with the email/text montage for a whole chapter? The only thing that is saving it is all the character work from the last book.

I am not sure I buy that everyone is just recognizing everyone else after decades or recognizing someone's features in their children but I'll go with it.

I am just remembering that I disliked the last book in the original series. Maybe I don't like how she wraps up stories? There are so many characters and I can't always tell them apart. And it seems like she isn't that interested in sticking with the POV characters she started out with.

This is beginning to feel like tragedy porn. I feel like it is weird that Covey wouldn't have accepted Benny considering Bunny. And the fact that she talks about her husband being the only person who knew her but she actually felt like she couldn't be honest with him? What was that? I do love the constant descriptions of cake though.

I am really struggling to get into this, which is a bummer because I like the first book. Or really, all the other books since this really is just a continuation of Ember in the Ashes series. It's just slow and I might have to put it on the backburner and come back to it.

I love this so far. I am a sucker for a generational saga. I do feel like the pacing can suffer a little bit with the modern story line but it's not a huge deal.

The idea for the plot is interesting but this writing is straight up bad. I can't tell anyone apart and snakes and swans have been mentioned like 100 times in 50 pages. There is none of the texture and charm of the Godkiller books. DNF for me!

Wow he was really like 'I really don't want to murder that child, but I guess I have to' Like no, you really don't have to murder anyone. Weirdly I am really into this though, the difference in how Victor interacted with Alain vs how Elias did is so interesting.

This was really hard to read at first because Victor is so terrible and then the introduction of Elias was hard for different reasons. But I feel like it is hitting its stride now. The alchemists have been the best part so far.

I feel like it has been hard to start off with a main character this unlikable but The Corruption of Hollis Brown was one of the most unique books I've ever read so I am trying to have a little faith that this will get more interesting.

This is hard to put down and I also don't want it to be over. I am a little worried that there are too many plots happening and that the wheels will come off but she has been juggling them so far.

I didn't need the cold open but otherwise I love everything about this so far. I usually don't like Leigh Bardugo or even care for dark academia that much but this series is just somehow right up my alley.

All the runner stuff is boring. The interesting part is Cara and the other world and that strangely feels like a side plot when it should be the main plot.

Is it me? Am I just not connecting with any book lately? I remember loving the first book in this series so much but this one just isn't working for me. The world building is still good. It might be the main characters? So much bravado is so boring and I really didn't need another sibling in the mix.

Yeah, I can't. I can't believe I bought this in hardback :(

I immediately, viscerally, dislike Ember. Not sure if I can do a whole book about this person. I get being driven and maybe not being able to focus on as much outside of your work but being so incredibly dismissive and blind to everyone around you is actually going to make you worse at your job.

Elsie is unconscious for so many events, why do that to your main POV character?

I may give this another shot on audio but I just don't think it's for me. There is so much info dumping and unnecessary jargon.

I am so glad I didn't read this one first because I am not sure I would have read the prequel. It's missing so much of the character work that the other one included and I think this one actually needs it more because there is a lot less happening plot-wise. Elsie is the only interesting character.

The 1600s are super boring. I feel like Joleon is Elsie's and she murdered her father? I mean there has got to be at least one secret child.

I think this book's problem is its villain. He used to be an interesting character and now he is just a cartoon. It should be interesting to have the heroes using public image to keep him in check but there isn't as much tension there as there should be. Also, having Sybil be despondent and injured most of the book just kind of brings the same energy to the plot.

I feel like it's weird she doesn't recognize this guy, even in a helmet. Like she thinks his voice only sounds kind of familiar? Seems contrived.

Hmmmm, this is what I was worried about. As much as I liked the vibes in the asylum, I think she should have cut that timeline if she wanted to flash back to Anne because this feels a little too scattered. Or maybe it's that Elsie is an interesting character and Anne isn't? It could be because I read the other book but I didn't really need any more of Anne's story. But maybe it will surprise me.