Elisa > Recent Status Updates

I generally try to give a book at least 10% before DNFing but I don’t think I can take a single minute more of this obnoxious MC, especially not when the book is in first person.

The pettiness and banter are next level and I am absolutely LIVING for it 😁

What?? Rushed much?
This makes zero sense, they just fucking met FFS

I’m enjoying the book so far, but I really cannot take these country names seriously

I think this is as far as I go.
This book relies far too much on telling rather than showing, and I think that’s the reason why despite a decent cast and an interesting premise, it ends up being boring rather than engaging, and probably also why it’s so hard to form an attachment to the characters, as we never get the chance to get to know them for ourselves, as we are constantly being TOLD about them.

I’m struggling a little to keep everybody and they backgrounds straight, but I’m enjoying it so far. I like the characters’ voices, even if the dynamics are a bit a puzzle still, while I understand how they all fit together.

Putting a pin in this because it’s just not capturing my interest TBH and I have so many books I’m more excited to read! Might return to it later

So far, this is my favorite book in the trilogy. I love both characters and it’s SO funny

I get what the author is trying to do, but developing a sort of alter ego isn’t the right way to handle this IMO.

Of course she’d pull a Clary Fairchild

Oh noooo so gross I could have done without this

I love Ed, he’s a really fun character

Hmmmm… no.
Too much drama, zero predicted fun, kind of flat dialogue. Not bad per se, just not my cup of tea — particularly when I’m on the eye of a slump.

This is SO boring.
Im tempted to skim and that is NOT a good sign.

This visual is completely unnecessary.

NGL the made-up Italian-sounding words are kind of bugging me.

BTW the main country is called Salato, which means “salty” or “savory”

All that’s standing between me and the rest of my life is a man in very ugly shoes.

What an excellent opening 👏🏼👏🏼

Jeez, the mixed signals in this joint

Oh look, Ivy is taking shit out on the wrong person, what else is new

Every single person in this books bugs me – the MC most of all. I have only just climbed out of a slump so I definitely cannot master the patience needed to see where this goes, especially as I’m not sure at all it would be worth the effort.
So goodbye book, it was not meant to be.

It’s so funny, I keep picturing Bram as having dark hair

Buddy read with my wonderful friend Bogi

Finally completing my TDA reread so I can gradually move on to the most recent additions to the universe over the summer and be ready for The Last King of Faerie in November!

That’s it, no more. I’m done. I feel like a have it more than a fair shot but unfortunately it is honestly so dull. I loved her fantasy series but this is not it IMO.

I am very sorry to say this, but this book truly is SO dull. I have gotten this far only because I had hoped it would get better, and if I finish it it will be out of sheer stubbornness.

And that’s as far as I go. Too many fairytale elements mashed together, and I don’t enjoy the purposely silly tone of the writing. I’m sure someone else will appreciate more.

Not really enjoying this so far.
It has a slightly farcical vibe that is unfortunately one of my pet peeves in books 🙈
it has a lot of good reviews and I have a very pretty edition so I’m going to try and stick it out a bit longer and see if it becomes more appealing but I don’t have very high expectations TBH

On paper, this has all the elements of a very compelling novel. Unfortunately I am finding it really dull, and I don’t think I can continue — particularly as I’m fighting a bit of a slump as it is, and this definitely isn’t helping.
Unfortunately I think I just don’t vibe with L.R. Lam’s writing style, because this is the second book of theirs I found myself struggling to get into. Pity.

This just isn’t clicking to me. The characters are so blah and so is the story, it’s just not interesting IMO. I think she was going for a Wicked sort of thing, where we meet and side with the villain but she failed to make her or anyone compelling so it all falls flat.