Astrid Appels > Recent Status Updates

A little too much crying and too much pushing away to highlight “trauma” and gain sympathy/empathy from the reader. I wish the plot would be thicker but still it reads well

Waiting for Nym to finally give in to Renn…

Yesss, another typical duel/trial trope but i’m vibing with the world and character building

Although this book started at a slow pace with repetitive scenes and imagery, the bond between the main characters slowly deepens and feels genuine, human and loving (and not so superheroesque as is typical in romantasies). I like it.

Beautiful story, loving how the relationship grows

Let's see what the hype is all about. Coming off Starside which I thoroughly enjoyed, this one got big shoes to fill.

Absolutely loving this book. True enemies to lovers with a very slow burn and fun adventures

Loving it, a fun quest, different with a clear slow burn.

Fun, fascinating and different even though it’s built up on a trial trope.

Alrighty, let’s get started…

Final book in the series. The action continues TOG style…

100 pages to prepare for war. Lots of conscious coupling for comfort. Another mate bond that felt rather forced and unnecessary but the TOG blueprint continues to be followed

Much more action going on, with an interesting scene at the Lakes of Mirrors. Regaining my appetite to read more and order book 4 after book 2 was rather a drag..

An up tempo start in Book 3 in which the mighty Fae continue to be remarkably weak and powerless, constantly shackled and drugged. Let’s see where this takes us…

The first 300 pages were a drag but once the cast returned to Ellow the drama began to unfold and the spice started to spice. Phew, otherwise this book would have been drab.

100 - 200d TOG vibes very weak part in the book. Merrick is clearly infatuated with Lessia, constantly gazing, holding her arm or hand. The mating bond has so clearly in place and the author thinks her readers are dumb and gullible. The switch from broody warrior to lapdog too fast. What a disappointment. There is zero tension,, no slow shift of interest. The other MMCs remain shallow: Raine, Ardow, so1-dimensional.

Glad to continue the tale and the new adventures but bot so amused that Merrick immediately turned from a brooding, mysterious male into a love-sick golden retriever pup, protecting and following Lessia as if the mate bond has been set already. Too fast!! I want it slow.

Love the political intrigue woven into the "trial" trope in this romantasy, but deeply question the lack of editing this book underwent. How often can you repeat the word "curling" of the lips? Incessantly used and so annoying.

This is an epic fantasy and there is not a trace of romantasy, but it’s innovative with creative world building and plenty of intrigue. I’m enjoying it but miss some spice and pull between the FMC and MMC.

Another book with “Trials” as trope but these do not come across as repetitive. They are more original, embedded in a murder mystery. This book is epic fantasy, so far no romance, no yearning nor pull being developed amongst characters. Pity .

The first 25 pages were quite heavy on world building and name dropping, but then I got in the flow and I'm really enjoying how layered the plot seems to be and several characters that seem intriguing. let's hope the depth continues.

Things are literally and figuratively heating up during and after the third trial..

The plot is finally thickening and becoming more intriguing. i was underwhelmed by the second trial that drew heavily on Harry Pitter’s Goblet of Fire. Maybe my brain js tainted by all i read before but i often feel annoyed if I see inspiration drawn on other books. Still cant wait to read the rest

Hmmm, was expecting this to be a 5 ⭐️ read but so far enjoying it, not loving it. I dont feel the physical attraction to Xul and maybe the graphics in the book meddle with my mental visualisation . The first trial is too much Hunger Games with a magical twist…

When this chunker of a book landed in my mailbox i understood why it was so expensive to buy (50 euro hardcover). After Riftborn and Duskbound, i have to read this one. Loved the start ln the seaside town, then it felt very Hunger Games x Blood of Hercules. Let’s see where this goes…

Despite the fact that this section could use some editing and much of the repetitive statements removed, the plot develops so interestingly and the spice is properly spicing. Loving it

The wedding ceremony was fun to read but i felt the plot a little dragging after that, some formulas become too repetitive (missing Aidia, her pretended hatred for Henry is no longer convincing). Still a super entertaining read. Will finish the book tomorrow.

Wow, I’m hooked! Started this one at 9pm and kept reading through the night until 4.30 am. Love the world building, enemies to lovers and slow burn. Loving this one very much.. so far…

It's giving me a lot of TOG / Rowan vibes right now with a touch of Gild with all the Rip hopping...